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: "AUSTRALIAN LOTTERY INC" <alwinners5@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:32:12 +0100
Subject: Congratulations


*Attn: Winner,
We are happy to inform you that your email address have emerged winner
of FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS ($400,000.00) in
category 'A' Lotto Award Ref No: ILP/HW46704/03. For the immediate
release of your funds, you are to forward this message details to our
agent and Please quote your Date of draw,Reference Number,

Provide your FULL NAME,ADDRESS,MOBILE PHONE NUMBER to your claims agent.

Contact your claims agent: Mr Fred Bush
Email: mail.fredbush@yahoo.com

Congratulations once again on your winning.

BEST REGARDS
LINNA MARTINS (MRS)
(LOTTERY COORDINATOR)
*

Anti-fraud resources: