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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Edward Lucio" <victorbenjamin13@yahoo.gr> (may be fake)
Reply-To: edwardlucio@excite.com
Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2007 14:36:02 +0200
Subject: Please I Need Your Help

Dearest One.

I Am Edward Lucio,13yrs old boy,from cape verde, very good looking boy that
is loving and caring in nature.
Tall and fair in complexion above all trusted and God Fearing.Things are
like to do on my spare time are reading and dancing ballet,going to
recreation centre to catch my fun,and i am spending my time with
Soroow.About my family,My Father Dr.Lucio Desmond was a Neurological
consultant in our government hospital,he is a wealthy man and a loving
father.
But one faithful day he was coming home from the hospital after work and he
ran into a failed brake lorry at a junction which made his Mercedes Benz E
class beyond repairs and also my father beyond recognition,he died instantly
and at that moment,I was going to evening church service with my mum,she
received a distress call telling her the news and she loosed control and
developed a high blood pressure, people around help me to took her to the
hospital , after three mouth , she pass away.
Since then, I had been passing through hardship from the hand of my uncle,
his treating me like a slave and had claimed all my parent belonging without
taking care of my education, but, my greatest joy now is that my father
lawyer call me and inform me about my father deposited fund in a financial
firm with my name as next of kin of the said fund before his death and as
the only child of the family.
He deposited the sum of 6.2million Usd in financial firm with my name as
the next of kin and i went to the finance firm to make the claim,but the
director told me that i should look for a trustee who will help me and make
the claim base on my tender age to hand the transaction since the money is
been deposited in foreign account.
Beside, I don't want that my wicked uncle to know anything about this matter
that is the reason why i contacted you to assit me in transferring the fund
to your country while you will help me to relocate and be with you and
further my education, and also me to invest the fund in business that will
profit oriented to us.
I shall be willing to settle down with you, if you will be loving and caring
to me.
Staying with my uncle here in Senegal is more than being in a prison
yard.even the car my beloved Dad bought for me is now be using by his first
son .
I want you to keep this matter between us to avoid jealous from people,and
so that my uncle will not hear it.
I need an urgent respond ,indicating your wiliness and ability to handle
this transaction.
Hope to hear from you soon and bye with Aburdernt Blessing of God.

Best Regard
Edward Lucio.


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