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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: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: <hen.williams@rocketmail.com>
Date: Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:53:38 +0000
Subject: Partnership Acquisition



Hello:I am arranging to come over to your country with some large sum of money for an investment. I will be flying in few weeks time. However, I do not know any investor in your country who I may trust to handle the business for me as I am a foreigner. Secondly, I am afraid of bringing in a large amount of money to your country. Could you please indicate your interest to work with me for this purpose? I will be sending you my flight schedule as soon as I confirm my ticket. I am in need of your response to this arrangement to enable me find out the situation regarding the amount someone can bring into your country, and also to arrange the necessary documents for this funds.
I wish to inform you that this letter is not a hoax mail and I urge you to treat it very serious.There is no risk attached and the funds in question can never be traced or marked as money laundering.
Please get back to me as soon as possible. Regards,Mr.Henry Williams

Anti-fraud resources: