joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
 Free trial for 30 days
   jwSpamSpy
Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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. Steve Curtis" <curtis.st6@msn.com>
Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2009 22:40:48 +0000
Subject: CALEDONIA MINING CORPORATION ( REPLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE)



DESK OF THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
CALEDONIA MINING CORPORATION.
P.O. Box 587
Johannesburg 2000
South Africa
Our ref: SA/contract/09


Dear,

I got your contact address from your reliable chamber of commerce here in South Africa as a trusthworthy partner.I am Mr Steve Curtis the Vice President Finance, Chief Financial Officer of CALEDONIA MINING CORPORATION of South Africa and also a member of the Board of Directors,Contract Awarding Committee that awards contracts to both foreign and local contractors in the giant mining industry in South Africa, For my profile click on http://www.caledoniamining.com/direct.php We awarded contract of fify two Million United States Dollar(US$52M).I and my colleagues deliberately over-inflated the contract amount to the value of one hundred Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars(US$100M),mapping out fourty eight million United States Dollars(US$48M) for our own good. The contract have since been concluded and inspected,and the contractors had been paid off,leaving this o ur over-invoiced waiting for claims. Now we
solicit for your assistance in transfering this our (US$48.5M) in your private or company's account in your country provided it can contain this figure. Note that we are in position of all relevant documents to this money. What I need from you is as follows:
a) Guarantee that you will not expose this transfer to anybody,because we are still in office and ambitious politicians who will not like to risk their position in the society.
b) Your honesty,that you will not run away with our money.
c) Your bank particulars where this money will be transfered into.We have agreed to give to you 35% of the total amount for providing us with your bank account. And 5% for expences(viz): Faxes/Telephone calls and other micellaneous expences that is incurred locally
and internationally on the course of this transaction,while 60% remains for our investment in your country.Remember, we are government officials here, therefore can not handle this transfer on our own. We request that you keep this transaction highly confidential, as we would not like to be exposed for our security.We beleive that you are a trustworthy and honest fellow who will not cheat us when this money is transferred into your account. for my security and my position i want you to contact me ONLY via my email mr.stevecurtis@ymail.com and i will give you my private telephone numbers.
Expecting your reply soonest.

Best regards,
Mr Steve Curtis

Anti-fraud resources: