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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "philip williams" <philipwilliams7@msn.com>
Date: Fri, 16 Sep 2005 18:28:51 +0000
Subject: THIS IS A CRY FOR HELP

CRYING FOR HELP
DEAR FRIEND,


MY NAME IS PHILIP WILLIAMS.I AM 65 YEARS OLD MAN.I WAS ONCE
MARRIED WITH TWO SONS.MY WIFE AND TWO OF MY SONS DIED IN
SIRRERA LEAONE CIVIL WAR TWO YEARS AGO.PRESENTLY, I AM IN
MOROVIA CAPITAL CITY OF LIBERIAN RECEIVING TREATMENT IN THE
HOSPITAL.

EVER SINCE, I HAVE BEEN HELPING THE ORPHANS IN THE
ORPHANAGE/MOTHERLESS HOME.I HAVE DONATED SOME MONEY TO THE
ORPHANS IN SUDAN,SOUTHAFRICA,CAMEROON,BRAZIL, BEFORE I BE
CAME ILL,I SENT SOME MONEY{6MILLION DOLLARS}SIX MILLION
DOLLARS IN A BOXES THROUGH ONE SECURITY COMPANY IN EUROPE.
THE MONEY IS PRESENTLY WITH THE SECURITY COMPANY IN SPAIN
AND I INTEND TO USE THE FUND IN BUILDING A HOSPITAL FOR
THE POOR AND TO SET UP A MOTHERLESS BABIES FUNDATION
BECAUSE OF THE LOVE I HAVE FOR THE LESS PREVILEGE ONES.

PRESENTLY, I AM IN A HOSPITAL. MY DOCTORS TOLD ME THAT I
HAVE CANCER OF THE LUNGS THAT I HAVE FEW MONTHS TO
LIVE.PLEASE,I BEG YOU IN THE NAME OF GOD TO HELP ME COLLECT
THE {BOX} FROM THE SECURITY COMPANY.AFTER COLLECTING THE
MONEY{BOX} FROM THE SECURITY COMPANY,YOU WILL NOW HELP ME
TO TAKE THE MONEY{$6MILLION} TO ONE ORPHANGE HOME THAT IS
CLOSE TO YOU AND KEEP 40% OF THE TOTAL FUND WHILE THE
BALANCE SHOULD BE USE TO KEEP MY DREAMS ALIVE.


MAY THE GOOD GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
I AWAIT YOUR URGENT RESPONSE.

REGARDS.
PHILIP WILLIAMS.CONTACT ME THROUGH MY PRIVATE
ADDRESS: philiwilliamsmajorbizinter2005@yahoo.co.in

N:B IF YOU CAN HELP ME.MAIL ME SO THAT I WILL GIVE
YOU THE SECURITY COMPANY CONTACT.PLEASE, HELP ME.I'M DYING
IN PAINS.


Anti-fraud resources: