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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: Richard
Reply-To: <richardleescb1@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 4 Dec 2015 10:58:20 +0200
Subject: Urgent!


Dear Friend, Thank you for your urgent response to me email. I am Mr.Victor=
Mpela, a native of Mamelodi, Pretoria in South Africa working with the Sou=
th African Department of Minerals and Energy. I am getting in touch with yo=
u regarding a confidential co-operation in the execution of the deal descri=
bed below for the benefit of all parties. I work as a Director in my countr=
y Department of Minerals and Energy and with co-operation of two other top =
officials, we have in our possession an overdue contract payment bills tota=
ling Twenty Six Million, Four Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (US$26=
.4 Million ).This money which we intend to process its transfer as a form o=
f contract payment into a reliable company or individual bank account depen=
ding on your preference. Presently this amount (US$26.4) representing the b=
alance of the total contract value executed on behalf of my Department by a=
foreign contracting firm which we the officials over-invoiced deliberately=
is lying unclaimed in the government escrow bank account with South Africa=
n Reserve Bank . We hereby seek your assistance and co-operation that will =
enable us to process the release of this sum of money to you as a form of c=
ontract payment. Your assistance and co-operation is required due to the ci=
rcumstances surrounding our work as government officials whereas the South =
African Civil Service Code of Conduct does not allow us to operate a foreig=
n bank account, hence your importance in the whole transaction. All partner=
s agreed that should you be willing to assist us in the transaction, your s=
hare of the sum will be 25% of the US$26.4 Million , 70% will be for us and=
5% for any expenses incurred in the course of bring this project to a succ=
ess including telephone and fax bills. I would respectfully request that yo=
u keep the contents of this mail confidential and respect the integrity of =
the information you come by as a result of this mail. We contact you indepe=
ndently after researching your enviable credentials which convinced us on y=
our competence to handle a transaction involving a large amount of money. T=
he business is 100% safe on your part provided you treat it with utmost sec=
recy and confidentiality. Also note that your area of specialization is not=
a hindrance to the successful execution of the transaction. I will bring y=
ou into the full knowledge of how we intend to achieve 100% risk free trans=
action after hearing from you. We have put our confidence in you while wait=
ing for your prompt response through our telephone or private email: vvicto=
rmphela@gmail.comto notify me of your capability to assist us in achieving =
success in this transaction. We thank you for your co-operation. Yours fait=
hfully, Mr.Victor Mpela.

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