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: "MrsMary Whitegate" <mrsmarywhitegate@bigmir.net>
Date: Thu, 15 May 2008 08:47:26 -0800
Subject: Can i trust you? Please its important


Please read this slowly and carefully,as it may be
one of the most important emails you ever get.I am
Mrs Mary Whitegate, I was married to Late Cassius
Whitegate.He used to work with Shell Petroleum
Development Company London and was also a seasoned
contractor in the West African Region.He died on
Monday,31 July,2003 in Paris.

We were married for seven years without a child.After
his death I decided not to re-marry or get a child
outside my matrimonial home.When my late husband was
alive,he deposited the sum of GBP 5.2 Million in a bank
in London,which is now waisting and languishing there.
My Doctor told me that I would not last long due to my
complicated health issues,I have cancer. Having known my
condition I decided to donate this funds to better the
lives of the less privileged.I need an honest and trust
worthy individual that will utilize this money in accordance
with my instruction.I want the funds to be used in funding
religious organizations,orphanages and less privileged
propagating the word of God.I took this decision because
I don't have any child that will inherit this money and my
husband's relatives are very unkind to me and I don't want
my husband's hard earned money to be misused.I am not afraid
of death hence I know where I am going.I know that I am going
to be in the bosom of the Lord. As soon as I receive your
reply I shall give you the contact of the Bank,and my Attorney
in London.For legitimacy,he will also issue you a letter of
authorization that will empower you as the original-beneficiary
of this fund.

I want you to always pray for me,Any delay in your reply will
give me room in sourcing for another individual for this same
purpose.If you are not interested,kindly pardon me for contacting
you. You can reach me with my alternate email address
(mrs.marywhitegate@yahoo.com)

Thanks,
Yours sincerely,
Mrs.Mary Whitegate

Anti-fraud resources: