joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Joaquim Branco" <joaquim@newlife.com>
Reply-To: quim_bran@ukr.net
Date: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 21:15:00 +0100
Subject: YOUR URGENT RESPONSE NEEDED

Dear Sir,


Greetings. I am Joaquim Rafael Branco of Sao Tome & Principe. I am the immediate past Prime Minister,under the Government of President Fradique de Menezes.Acting in my previous capacity as minister of natural resources,during the bidding for oil exploration rights in the gulf of guinea by several oil companies,I assisted a particular company to obtain one of the licenses.After their bid succeeded,they gave me 48 million$ in cash for my assistance.I cannot introduce or circulate this amount into the banking system of my country because:


1. My provisional duty as a minister allows me to earn less than $1000 equivalent of Dobra (our local currency)


2. Strict stipulations of the Bureau of conduct guidelines and regulations for Public/Civil servants.


3. Due to the intense competition during the bidding for the oil exploration licenses at the time there are now investigations into how the whole process was handled.


4.Furthermore,Groups of persons'in the Government and opposition parties have ganged up against me,with false allegations of an intention by me to contest in the next presidential elections.This has caused dissent and discontent in my party circles even though I am the present leader,now prompting my decision to take flight with my family,hence my soliciting your co-operation to take delivery of the funds into your custody for investment purposes.25%of the entire funds will be apportioned to you for your efforts and assistance.



I implore you to accord this transaction strict confidentiality and secrecy it deserves no matter what your decision may be.
Awaiting your response with urgency!



Regards,
Mr.Joaquim Rafael Branco
Former Prime Minister and President of the Movement for the Liberation of
Sao Tome and Principe/Social Democratic Party (MLSTP/PSD)
Sao Tome & Principe

Anti-fraud resources: