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: dominic_goldservices@voila.fr
Date: Fri, 2 Sep 2005 14:11:52 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: LOOKING FOR AN HONEST BUYER


DEAR FRIENDS.

I WILL LIKE TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION OVER TO THE PROBLEM FACING THE ABOMEY
COMMUNITY IN COTONOU REPUBLIC OF BENIN.
FIRST IAM MR DOMINIC PETER AN AGENT TO THE ABOMEY COMMUNITY HERE IN COTONOU.

THE PROBLEM THEY ARE FACING IS THAT THEY NEED A BUYER FOR THEIR GOLD BAR
OF 1,200 KG WHICH IS BEEN KEPT IN OUR SECURITY COMPANY HERE IN COTONOU.

THEY NEED A BUYER FOR THE GOLD BAR BECAUSE.

1 THE GOVERMENT ARE ALWAYS CHEACTING ON THEM.

2 THE NEED TO GET MECHINCE SO THAT THEY CAN ALSO EXTRACT THE GOLD DUST
FROM THE GROUND.

3. THEY HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE GO AHEAD BY THE GOVERMENT FOR ALEAST ONE YEAR
THAT IF THEY CAN PROVIDE MECHINCE THEY WILL COME BACK AND TAKEOVER FROM
THEM.

4 THE INCOME THEY ALWAYS GET IS VERY LOW.

PLEASE THAT IS WHY THE COMMUNITY NEED YOUR HELP SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE
PLEASE.

HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU SOONEST.

MR DOMINIC PETER

Anti-fraud resources: