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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: "MRS.MONICA MADHUKU" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <johnmadhuku0147@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 11 Aug 2011 11:16:39 -0700
Subject: Family In Need Of Help

MRS MONICA MADHUKU.
PHONE: +27-78-199-4276
FAX NO +27-866-620-327
E-mail: johnmadhuku@yahoo.com
 
 
                                               PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL
 
ATTN:Sir,
 
My name is MRS MONICA MADHUKU, the wife of MR. NELSON MADHUKU from Zimbabwe. This might be a
 
surprise to you about where I got your contact address. I got your address from the chambers
 
of commerce during my search for a reliable person or company that will assist my family in
 
this transaction though I did not reveal the actual nature of the business I have in mind
 
because it needs privacy.
 
During the current war against the farmers in Zimbabwe from the supporters of our President
 
Dr Robert Mugabe to claim all the white and Arab owned farms which the government finally
 
handed over to his party members and followers, He ordered all white and Arab farmers to
 
surrender all their farms to his party members and his followers. My husband is One of the
 
best black farmers in our country and because he did not support the bad government policy
 
Mugabe`s supporters invaded my husband’s farm and burnt everything in the farm, killing my
 
husband and made away with a lot of items in our farm.
 
Before his death, my husband had deposited in a private Security Company in Johannesburg,
 
South Africa the sum of {US$40 MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY}. After the death of my
 
husband the entire family for fear of our lives. We decided to move to the Republic of South
 
Africa where he had deposited the money in the Security Company as valuables as refugees.
 
Later we discovered that the monetary policy here does not allow refugees to open bank
 
account or transact business. So I decided to contact you so that you will assist me to move
 
this money out of South Africa for investment abroad because as asylum seekers we are not
 
allowed to operate any Bank Account within South Africa. We have agreed to offer you 30% of
 
the total sum for your assistance, 5% will be mapped out for any expenses that may be
 
incurred in the course of this transaction while 65% will be for me and my family to invest
 
in your country.
 
If you accept my offer kindly send to me your phone and fax numbers for easier
 
communications. Thanks as I hope to hear a good reply from you. Please always remember that
 
it is the wish of my first son and the entire family that you keep this matter private to
 
avoid entering a wrong hand that may jeopardize our chances of success. Please call my first
 
son MR JOHN MADHUKU on the number above.
 
 
Yours faithfully,
 
MRS MONICA MADHUKU.
 
 

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