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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: " NZANGA JOSEPH MOBUTU" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <nzangajoseph_mobutu@aol.com>
Date: Fri, 16 May 2014 02:42:16 +0200
Subject: PLEASE CONSIDER THIS MESSAGE

 
FROM=JOSEF NZANGA MOBUTU
No.120 Park Crescent,
London, W1B 1HT, DX
Tel: +447035968588  
   
Dear Friend,
 
My Name is Josef Nzanga Mobutu and i bring to you peace and love from London - United Kingdom. Please, I am very sorry if this letter did not meet your professional ethics but considering the fact that we have not met before, you may consider this letter as a surprise.
 
I am seeking for someone that will assist me with a business that has to do with my family estate which my late father left behind for us. I am contacting you base on the fact that I want someone that is not known to me and my family to assist me in this business and this is for security reasons.
 
I am the son of the late Mobutu Sese seko, the former President of "ZAIRE" now democratic republic of Congo. I reside in London, now on political asylum. I got your contact information from the internet in my search for assistance.
 
I want you to note that this business will benefit both of us. I am seeking for your assistance in my desire to secure the sum of Thirty-two Million United States Dollars (US$32,000,000.00) and also to front for me and my family in the areas of business you consider profitable.
 
I presume you are aware there are financial dispute between my family (THE MOBUTU) and the present civilian Government. You may also have heard how a lot of my father's bank account in Switzerland and North America has been frozen. Following the outlined reasons,  I am seeking for your assistance in my desire to secure the sum of Thirty-two Million United States Dollars (US$32,000,000.00) and also to front for my family in the areas of business you consider profitable.
 
These Boxes containing the funds have secretly been concealed and deposited with a Diplomatic Security firm Abroad through Diplomatic means where it can easily be taken delivery of by a recommended beneficiary.
 
The Boxes containing the funds were shipped as diplomatic items of high values and will be released to you by the Security firm based on my recommendations on that note; you will be presented as my partner who will be fronting for me and my family in any subsequent ventures.
 
We as a family have decided to offer you 10% of the total fund for your assistance if you are able to help us claim the boxes, 5% for any expenses that may be incurred during this transaction, and the remaining 85% for my family.
 
Please, I need your entire support and co-operation for the success of this business ventures, your utmost confidentiality and secrecy is highly required due to my family's present predicament. Please indicate your interests to enable us proceed. God Bless you and your family as you respond to this email.
Regards,
MR.JOSEF NZANGA MOBUT

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