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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: "thomas.tyrone1234@gmail.com" <tyronethomas0201@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 21 Jul 2021 10:37:56 +0200
Subject: REF


YOUR KINDEST ATTENTION

I only got your contact details from the South Africa Exchange Information
Online Service on my personal programmed search on the internet for a
reputable company or individual to assist me sincerely & confident that
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 Department of
Minerals & Energy 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 a 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$30.500, 000.00 (Thirty
Million Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars). Though the actual contract cost
has been paid to the original contractors, leaving the excess balance
unclaimed.

Since the present elected Government is determined to pay foreign
contractors all debts owed, so as to maintain a good relationship with
foreign governments and non-government agencies, we included our bills for
approvals with the Department of Finance and the South Africa Reserve Bank
(SARB). I am seeking your assistance to front you as the 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%), and the balance of
(65%) will be for me.

The business is completely safe and secure, provided you treat it with the
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.

Your urgent response, please. Thanks for your co-operation. Contact me for
more information.

Regards,

Mr. Thomos Thompson

Anti-fraud resources: