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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. Joseph Khuma" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <j.khumaprivate1@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 28 Apr 2010 12:06:06 +0200
Subject: BUSINESS PROPOSAL FOR YOU!!

From: Mr. Joseph Khuma
Tel: +277-9195-9830
EMAIL: j.khumaprivate1@hotmail.com
 
Dear Friend,
 
I am.  Mr. Joseph Khuma, an account manager here in South Africa. One of our accounts with holding balance of (7MILLION DOLLARS) has been dormant and last operated in the past four (4) years. From investigations and confirmations, the owner of this account is a French Foreigner by name Eng PINTO JASON died on the 4th of January 2003 in an automobile accident in South Africa.  Since then nobody has done anything as regards to the claiming of this money as he has no family member that is aware of the existence of either the account or the fund. Several attempt to trace any of his relative proof abortive and also Information from the National Immigration office states that late Eng PINTO JASON was single on point of entry into South Africa. 
 
Our Financial Institution is presently and by law the custodian of the money belonging to the deceased, whose account I am responsible for monitoring and officiating. The present mandate I have to present a credible beneficiary opens the way for us to take advantage of the situation and use the money to positively affect the lives of many instead of allowing the funds to be completely lost, since no one knows about the money and no one will come forward to claim the money as we already know.  I have confidentially discussed this issue with some of the bank officials and we have agreed to find a reliable foreign partner to deal with. We thus propose to do business with you by transferring out this fund from South Africa to any part of the countries for investment, standing in as the next of kin of this fund from the deceased and fund released to you after due processes have been followed. This transaction is totally free of risk and tro ubles as the fund is Legitimate a
 
On your interest, please send to me your contact telephone number, full names, occupation, Identification of yours and residential address. However, I kept this information (SECRET) confidential within my jurisdiction to enable us submit claims and transfer this fund through trustworthy person whom we shall present to our bank as the BONAFIDE “NEXT OF KIN” to the deceased. We intend to credit this fund into any of your nominated (designated) offshore bank account for investments. Meanwhile, all domestic arrangements for claims have been put in place awaiting your acceptance to participate. I will give you directives and all needed information as soon as I receive your positive response.
 
Kindly understand that we could not carry out this on our own as based on the simple facts that we are civil servants and secluded from operating foreign account and too, it will raise eyebrows on our side in terms of transfer being staff of the bank. Moreover, this fund belongs to a foreigner and demands same as next of kin to claim it and I will do my best for successful operation. I will offer you 30% of the total sum as commission and i will invest 60% of my share in your country provided it is profit oriented. 10% of the total fund will be set aside to reimburse all expenses to be incurred in the course of running this transaction such as telephone and other minor expenses. I am assuring you of a smooth and successful transaction provided you display maturity, honesty and confidentiality.
 
Sincerely,
   
Mr. Joseph Khuma

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