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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: "George Mashela" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <george.mashela2008@gmx.com>
Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2014 03:47:41 -0700
Subject: ENGR. Mashela George.

SUBJECT:CONFIDENTIAL
Telephone: 0027- 78611 6797
Email-- mashela.george@mailbox.co.za
 
Hello,
After my  official  enquiry  from the  foreign  trade  office  of  the  chambers of  commerce  & industry
here in Johannesburg South Africa, I decided to contact you but I did  not disclose the intention to
anyone  else  because  of  the  delicate  nature  of  the  project  and  decided  to  reach  you  directly  to
solicit  for  your assistance  and  guidelines in  making a  business investment and  transfer  of  US$25
,000,000.00 (twenty-five million  US dollars) to your country within the next few days.
Please,  i  must  plead  for  your  confidence  in  this  transaction.  I  work  with  the  Department  of
(agriculture, land reform& rural development) in Johannesburg. I am currently in need of a silent
foreign partner whose identity we can use to transfer this sum of money. But at this moment, I am
constrained  to   issue  more  details  about   this  profitable  business  investment  until  I  get   your
response by email,
This fund accrued from over inflated contract executed by foreign contractors, through our private
connections. The fund is presently waiting to be remitted from a commercial bank in South Africa.
By virtue of my positions as civil servants in my country i cannot acquire this money in my name.
Because as high placed civil servant, i am not allowed by the civil service code of conduct to own
or operate bank accounts outside of our shores. On the other hand, it is not safe for us to keep the
money  here  due  to  security  reason.  I  have  decided  to  look  for  an  overseas  silent  partner  who
could work with me to facilitate transfer of this fund for our mutual benefit, hence the reason for
this email.
My  proposal  is  that  after  you  receive  the  funds,  it  would  be  shared  as  follows:  30%  to  you  as
commission  for  your  co-operation and assistance  in facilitating the  transfer, while  the remaining
70%  belongs to  me.  You  will  be  free  to  take  out  your  commission  immediately  after the  money
hits your account in your country. Since our objective is to invest the money in a foreign country, it
would  be  appreciated  if  you  could  also  help  us  with  advices  and  direction  on  investing  into
profitable ventures in your country.
The funds are with a commercial bank special account and I can send you details of the account to
convince  you  that  this  transaction  is  real.  All  we  need  to  do  is  give  you  an  approval  from  the
ministry  and  you  email  the  approval  for  transfer  of the  funds to  the  bank  and  the  funds will  be
processed  and  transferred  into  your  bank  account.  If  you  can  handle  this  please  forward  to  me
your contact details.
Regards,
ENGR. Mashela George.
www.agrinc.gov.za
 

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