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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

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

Fraud email example:

From: "Benjamin Guei" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <gueib@voila.fr>
Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2009 07:35:50 -0000
Subject: Your attension is needed please.

Dear,

I am Benjamin Guei;the first Son of an ex military/ex
president been an opposition party to the present
Government of COTE D`IVOIRE. On the 19th sept 2002 my
father/mother including every members of our family was
murdered by the unknown REBELS during the time they attack
our house by shooting and looting, even this is one of the
things that contributed to the present crisis in our
country today. God so kind, I was not in town when the
incident occurred, the plans of the REBELS is to kill
every members of our family so that no one will rise up to
revenge as time goes on.
I am in our country without anyone knowing,although I am
on hiding so that the unknown REBELS will not get to me
and kill me like they killed all the members of our
family.
The reason I still stay back in our country is to transfer
the $5.5mUSD which my late father,deposited in one of the
Foreign Bank here in Abidjan Ivory coast West
Africa, which he disguised and declared as fund belonging to his Foreign Business partner,but he did not disclose any contact or name to the,that was for security purpose to avoid raising eyebrow.
Before the death of my father he gave me the covering
documents of the fund deposited in the bank
as I am his first Son and he so much loved me that was why
he made me the beneficiary of the fund deposit.
Right now I wish to transfer this
fund to your Account so that you will assist me to invest
the money into any viable investment in your country, also
you will help me to join you in your country for me to
start up a new life with you there immediately the fund
gets to you. Since I am no longer safe as far as Africa is
concern at the moment, I wanted to transfer the fund
before leaving the country because this fund is my last
hope and the only hope I have now. Before I even pick you
to assist me I have prayed and slept over it asking God to
provide for me a Godly minded person that will assist me
in this transaction. please if you are willing to assist
me, do send in your reply immediately based on the
following:
(1) I want to offer you 15% of the total amount,however i
want to know percentage of this amount do you intend to
charge for your assistance, please feel free to express
your mind.
(2)Include your private telephone and fax numbers and full
contact details to enhance the confidentiality, which this
business demands. I shall inform you with next line of
action as soon as I receive your positive response.
kindly make out a time and visit this websites below
1:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2268718.stm
2:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2267971.stm
3:http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,795364,00.html
Looking forward to recieve your response for us to
proceed.

Thanks
Benjamin Guei

Anti-fraud resources: