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: "ENG. GRANT SISULU" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <gsisulu01@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Sat, 28 Mar 2015 20:27:34 -0800
Subject: ASSISTANCE NEEDED

>From The Desk :Engr.Grant Sisulu
Tel/ Fax: 0027 86 604 1818
Emails: gsisulu01@yahoo.co.jp
             
 
 
 
URGENT BUSINESS /INVESTMENT PROPOSAL
 
Sir,
 
The South Africa economy recently witnessed greatest growth in its tourism sector with astronomical growth increase since the end of Apartheid. Within the Late Nelson Mandela’s burial organizing committee which was just concluded on the 15th of December 2013 where I worked as director of Auditing and Project Implementation, for all contracts awarded to both local and foreign firms in relation to the building/refurbishment of existing infrastructure used during the Burial ceremonies. 94 heads of states and government across the globe attended the burial ceremony which lasted for almost one week. The ceremony was rated as one of the largest burial ceremony of all times. Our committee has utilized all funds allocated to it and has also commenced the auditing process. I and two of my colleague have set a side a certain amount of money for our own personal use. The Government has continuously strived to improve and maintain good relationship with foreign governments and Non-Govern mental financial agencies by ensu
The government has also congratulated us on this great achievement.
 
I therefore write, asking for your indulgence in re-profiling funds to tune of Twenty Five Million Seven Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (US$25.700.000.00) currently domiciled in a private finance company here in South Africa which we want to keep safely overseas under your supervision. In other words, we would like you to receive the said funds on our behalf.  The Funds were derived over time from couple of  projects awarded to  foreign firms by my committee , and presently the actual contract cost have been paid to the original project executors, leaving the balance in the tune of the said amount which we have in principle decided to remit overseas to an account to be nominated by you. We deliberately deposited this fund in a private finance company rather than a commercial bank to avoid any record or trace of the deposit because we made the deposit under false declaration because we are still serving government functionaries. . We shall arrange the pa pers to apply for the release and
Currently, I work as a Director of Projects in the Ministry tourism here in Pretoria therefore cannot move this fund in my name because I am still a civil servant. I have the authority and approval of my partners involved in this transaction to compensate you with 30% for your participation. We intend to move this fund before the final audit of our committee is completed.
This endeavor has a minimal risk factor on your part provided you treat it with the utmost discretion. You are advised to come back for further clarification.
 
I await in anticipation your fullest co-operation.
       
Thanks
 
Yours Faithful
Engr. Grant Sisulu
Director, Project Implementation
 

Anti-fraud resources: