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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: "Mr. Mark Pfotenhauer" <mark.pfoten666@universal.com.au>
Reply-To: pfotenhauermark540@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2020 11:30:57 -0700
Subject: HELLO: URGENT ATTENTION


Dear Sir/ Madam,
=

My names are . Mr Mark Pfotenhauer an adopted son of Engr Donald Hill a Na=
tional of your country and a former staff of the South Africa Petroleum dev=
elopment company (SPDC) Earlier in January 14 2019, Oh! what a sad day, my =
father was kidnapped by a group of local under-covered terrorist in Sydenha=
m, (Durban) South Africa, demanding a ransom fee of $70 million and due to =
his reluctant with the demanded ransom, He was later on killed by the Terro=
rist Activist , as he did not offer the amount to them. prior to his death =
my father confirmed to me he has some huge amount of money value $9.10 mill=
ion with a private bank in South Africa.
This funds is currently intact for my claim. =

My Father confirmed that, The only person aware of this funds is me and La=
te Kimmel Stephens who died couple of weeks ago in March 11 2020 due to Cov=
id19. Late Kimmel Stephens confirmed me to be the Only Surviving heir to m=
y late Father estate funds. I have therefore contacted you to assist me in =
repatriating the money and his properties left behind by my father before t=
hey get confiscated or declared not serviceable by the bank where the huge =
deposits were lodged, after which I will come down for the sharing of the m=
oney in the ratio of 70 % to me and 25% to you and 5% to any charitable hom=
e you may introduce to me being the fact, my father instructed 5% of his fu=
nds paid to any charitable organization of my choice.
All I need of you, is your honest co-operation to enable us see this deal =
through a logical conclusion. =

I have decided to move to your country, and invest my share of my funds. H=
ence, I guarantee you that this will be executed under a legitimate arrange=
ment that will protect you and I from any breach of the law.
If this meets your demand , please avail me with the following information=
for us to start.
(1) Your Full Names=2026=2026=2026=2026=2026=2026=2026=2026
(2) Your Contact Address=2026=2026=2026=2026.
(3) Phone Number=2026=2026=2026=2026=2026
(5) Bank Name and Address=2026=2026=2026=2026=2026=2026
(6) Your Bank Account Number=2026=2026=2026=2026=2026
=

May almighty Lord bless you as you offer to assist me over this.
=

Yours Sincerely,
Mr Mark Pfotenhauer

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