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: Dr James Mphela <dr.jamesmphelaa@yahoo.co.za>
Date: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 11:32:24 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: From: Dr James Mphela


From: Dr James Mphela
Direct Email creditconnect1@gmail.com

Dear Sir,
It gives me a great deal of pleasure to write you this mail even when it might come to you as a surprise. I hope you find it of interest.
My name is   From: Dr James Mphela, Chief accountant of account department of our Bank in SA . I would like to use this means to ask your assistance in moving the funds $13.5million over to your country.
I have in the course of my duties come in contact with some funds that have been inactive for some years now and careful investigation proved the original depositor of the funds died more than Two years ago.
All attempts to reach the suppose beneficiary of the deposit were fruitless and before it is forfeited to the state Government, I will like to move the funds outside now and this is were I need your assistance.
According to laws of the land, all unattended deposit beyond six years will be forfeited to the state Government, hence my contacting you.
I look forward to hearing from you and my gratitude for your patience. Please reply using this email  address Only (creditconnect1@gmail.com)
Sincerely yours,
Dr James Mphela



Anti-fraud resources: