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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Gordon Watson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <watsongordon205@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 23 Sep 2016 01:05:52 -0500
Subject: GREETINGS: FROM MR GORDON WATSON!

From Mr Gordon Watson
No.28 Oak Ave Ferndale,Ranburg,
Johannesburg,South-Africa
 
 
 
 
Dear Sir,
 
I am sorry for the inconvenience this letter might have caused however,I am Mr Gordon Watson,the Director of the project and planning Committee of the South Africa Auban Finance Corporation (SAAFC).I head a seven man Tenders Board Committee,in change of contract award committee.Ipersonally write this mail to intimate you that I came to know of you in my search for a reliable and reputable person to handle a very confidential transaction,which involves the transfer of money to a foreign account.In reference to my brief introduction. Iam obliged to say that Ipersonally you to solicit your assistance in order to make this deal a reality.
 
 
The amount in question is US$15.000.000.00.which has already been extracted from the contract of USD$500,000.00 been awarded to a foreign company and the contract has been executed and completed by the foreign company. The remaining balance of USD$15,000.00 which is the outstanding balance lying on our APEX Bank account of Auban Finance Corporation,unclaimed which i want to transfer out of the country through your assistance.Th fund has been drafted to represent the final payment for the contract that has been executed in this Company.
 
 
The fund is now floating in a Financial Institution awaiting claim with Whosoever i recommend as a contractor that executed the contract in our company, which status i now want you to resume by standing as the foreign contractor that executed the contract in our company.
 
 
Moreover,I would want to believe that you are honest enough and will not raise any misgiving attitude in any aspect of the transaction.Please,note that this DEAL needs utmost confidentiality so as not to tarnish the confidence i reposed on you.If this proposal is of interest to you,then kindly contact me for further details.
 
 
Yours Faithfully,
 
 
Mr.Gordon Watson
Director Contract Payment Committee
Auban Finance Corporation

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