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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: Phil Wooley <hanna.edstrom@multi.fi>
Reply-To: wooleyphil@yandex.com
Date: Mon, 02 Nov 2015 12:47:20 +0200
Subject: Good Day


Good Day,
I am a mining services consultant. I am 46 years old male (I shall
provide you with more details on my background later). I have worked for
South Africa department of mineral and energy as project director and now
ESCOM. At the moment, I am a consultant for several mining companies
advising them on liquefied natural gas exports and storage but the
government wants me to be the new spoke person of South African airways
(SAA)

The South Africa economy has witnessed a steady growth since the end of
Apartheid. Within the Ministry of Energy & Mineral Resources where I worked
as director of Auditing and Project Implementation, Mining and Quarrying
alone contributes 12.3% GDP (R25.9Billion), Gold made up R19.9Billion of
the yearly export while Base metals and other mineral products contribute
R6.7Billion and R5.0Billion respectively. This figure excludes Diamond,
which is quoted separately.
The Government has continuously strived to improve and maintain good
relationship with foreign governments and Non-Governmental financial
agencies by ensuring payments for all debts owed to foreign contractors. As
a matter of fact, the Government has sponsored several trade delegations
overseas to improve and attract foreign investments to South Africa.
I write, asking for your indulgence in re-profiling funds to tune of
Forty- Five Million Seven Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (US$45.7)
which we want to keep safely overseas under your supervision. In other
words, we would like you to receive the said funds on our behalf. The Funds
were derived over time from a project awarded to a foreign firm by my
Department, and presently the actual contract cost have been paid to the
original project executors, leaving the balance in the tune of the said
amount which we have in principle obtained approval to remit overseas.

Currently, as a Director of Projects at The Department of Minerals &
Energy here in Pretoria, though I?m in UK for a short holiday because my
family are also here. We have the authority and approval of my partners
involved in this transaction to compensate you with 25% for your
participation.

This endeavor has a minimal risk factor on your part provided you treat
it with the utmost discretion. You are advised to back for further
clarification.
I await in anticipation your fullest co-operation.
Dr.Phil Wooley
Director, Project Implementation.
Email: wooley.phil@yandex.com
TEL: +27 61 287 2650

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