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: "Simon Beta" <simon_beta4b@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 11 Jan 2006 01:16:59 +0000
Subject: Confidential, URGENT!

Top Greetings to you and your folks,Please don't be surprise
about my letter because I don't know you before.
I am only insearch of help that is why I contacted you, after
I got your contact from the net and I hope i am lucky to get
your help and co-operation

Dear Sir/ madam,

My name is Simon Fred Beta the eldest son of late Joseph
Beta the proud owner of Afred international diamond company in
sierra leon and the executive director of a quasi governmental
coporation untill he was killed by rebel soldiers.After the death
of my father,sister and my younger brother we flew to Abidjan,
untill my late father attorney came to us with an envelop contaning
some documents including his testament that he kept $45million
dollars with an insurance security company in Ghana using my
name as the next of kin.We left Abidjan at once and came for
the cliam, we were told at the company to provide all the relevant
documents that was given to my father at the time of deposit
and his death certificate and other documents from the court.We
were able to provide them with all the requested documents, and
we were told that my father had already registerd the consignment
unexpress transfer to leave Africa.
My mother would have spoken to you, but she can't speak
english, please if you are willing to help us invest the funds
out side of Africa, we will give to you 20% of the total money
invested.I will also want us to sign a financal contract agreement
for the mutual benefit of this transaction since we have not
met before now. reply to simon_fred_beta4b@yahoo.co.uk
or s_beta4b@yahoo.co.uk
Please do get back to me if u really want to help us, but if u know you
cant, please dont borther to mail me thanks.
Yours sincerely,
Simon Fred Beta

_________________________________________________________________
Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today it's FREE!
http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/

Anti-fraud resources: