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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: "SHAUN FRANZ STAFFEN" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <L.B160K@HOTMAIL.COM>
Date: Thu, 2 Nov 2017 00:36:49 +0200
Subject: BUSINESS PROPOSAL

Dear Sir / Madam,
 
My name is MR.SHAUN STAFFEN a Director with the contract award committee of ESKOM HOLDINGS LIMITED ,Republic of South Africa.
I only got your contact details from the South Africa Exchange Information On-line Service on my personal programmed search on the internet for a reputable company or individual to assist me sincerely & confidential which your information & profiles were very satisfactory, so I decided to contact you immediately.
 
It is my great pleasure to write you this letter . Within the ESKOM  HOLDINGS LIMITED SOUTH AFRICA  where I work as a Director of Audit and Project Implementation, I have in my possession an overdue payment in US funds. The said funds represent certain percentage of the total contract value executed on behalf of my department by a foreign contracting firm, which, I the official over-invoiced to the amount of US$21,000, 000.00 (Twenty One  Million United States Dollars). The contract has been successfully executed by the contractors and their contract sum of (US$120M) has been paid to them, leaving  over estimated balance of (US$21,000, 000. 00) United States dollars still pending at the bank. Right now, we are left with this over estimated balance of (US$21,000,000.00) which is still floating at the escrow account with the National Treasury awaiting final payment to any reliable foreign bank account you may provide.
 
I am therefore asking you to co-operate with me so that the fund will be released and transferred into your account.
 
Since the present elected Government is determined to pay foreign contractors all debts owed. I am seeking your assistance to front as beneficiary of the unclaimed funds, since I am not allowed to operate foreign accounts.
 
Details and change of beneficiary information upon application for claim to reflect payment and approvals will be secured on behalf of you/your Company. I have to propose that should you be willing to assist me in this transaction your share as compensation will be (35%), I receive (60%) and the balance of (5%) for taxation and miscellaneous expenses incurred during the transfer process.
 
The business is completely safe and secure, provided you treat it with utmost confidentiality. It does not matter whether you/your Company does contract projects, as a transfer of powers will be secured in favor of you/your Company. Also, your area of specialization is not a hindrance to the successful execution of this transaction. I have reposed my confidence in you and hope that you will not disappoint me.
N.B Please email your confidential Telephone number  to enable me contact you for further clarification.
Your urgent response please. Thanks for your co-operation.
 
I am therefore asking you to co-operate with me so that the fund will be released and transferred into your account. if you are interested in this my proposal, reply me so that we can negotiate your percentage before we can proceed however, when the fund is transferred into your account over there, I shall obtain visa and travel with my family to meet with you for my own share of this money. In this regards would  like you to send me the following information through the email address below for security reasons email( L.B160K@HOTMAIL.COM)
Your Name……………………….
your Address: ……………………………
Your Private Phone …………………
Thank you and I am looking forward to hearing from you and working with you soon, bye for now and have a nice day.
My best regards,
Mr.Shaun Staffen
Email:L.B160K@HOTMAIL.COM

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