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"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: james botha <bothajames8@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 10 Sep 2014 22:47:38 -0700
Subject: VERY URGENT

Foreign Affairs Ministry.
Foreign Affairs Ministry building
Cape Town South Africa.
PAYMENT
AUTHENTICATION.
Dear Sir/Madam.

I write to introduce this urgent/important business opportunity to you
Irrespective of the fact that we have not seen or known each other before
believing that it will be of immense benefit to both of us.Your contact
information came to me from your country's trade journal during my search
for a reliable and God fearing person that can assist me and I quite
believe on my own that you can be of great help in this regard even if I am
not acquainted to you before. Let me formally introduce myself. I am Dr.
Botha James, Director Gen. Department Foreign Affairs Ministry, my office
monitors and controls the affairs of all banks and financial institutions
in South Africa concerned with foreign contract payments. I am the final
signatory to any transfer or remittance of huge funds moving within banks
both on the local and international levels in line to foreign contracts
settlement.

I have before me list of funds, which could not be transferred to some
nominated accounts as these accounts have been identified either as ghost
accounts, unclaimed deposits and over-invoiced sum etc. I write to present
you to the federal government that you are among the people expecting the
funds to be transferred into their account, on this note; I wish to have a
deal with you as regards to the unpaid certified contract funds. I have
every files before me and the data's will be to change to your name to
enable you receive the fund into your nominated bank account as the
beneficiary of the fund's amount $85.7 Million United States Dollars. As
it is my duty to recommend the transfer of these surplus funds to the
Federal Government Treasury and Reserve Accounts as unclaimed deposits, I
have the opportunity to write you based on the instructions I received 2
days ago from theCommittee on Contract Payments /Foreign Debts to submit
the List of payment reports /expenditures and audited reports of revenues.
Among several others, I have decided to remit this sum following my idea
that we have a deal/agreement and I am going to do this

Legally.

MY CONDITIONS.
1. You will give me 50% of the contract funds as soon as you confirm it
in your designated bank account. And you will take 50% of the total sum for
your assistance.

2. This deal must be kept secret forever, and all correspondence will
be strictly by email telephone, for security purposes.
3. You will help me to invest the fund in your country.
If you AGREE with my conditions, l advise you on what to do immediately
and the transfer

will commence without delay as I will proceed to fix your name on the
Payment schedule instantly to meet the three days mandate.
Waiting for your reply soon.

Yours Sincerely
Dr. Botha James

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