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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: tas messah <tasmessah4me@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 26 Mar 2010 16:47:24 +0000
Subject: PLEASE I NEED YOUR MUTUAL HELP

*DEAR SIR,
*

*
SORRY FOR USING THIS MEDIUM TO CONTACT YOU, CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT U
DON'T KNOW ME. BUT, I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT MY MOTIVE AND WAY OF
CONTACTING, WILL BE GIVING A FAVORABLE CONSIDERATION

I AM A DAUGHTER OF ONE MR CRECENT MESSAH, WHO DIED IN THE LAGOS STATE
UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL, AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT WHICH HE HARD ON HIS WAY
TO SOME BUSINESS MEETING IN IKOYI LAGOS STATE NIGERIA. MY MUM HAD DIED LONG
AGO DUE TO CANCER OF THE BREAST WHILE I REMAIN THE ONLY FRUIT OF THE FAMILY.
SEE ATACHMENT FOR FUNERAL PHOTO AND OTHER PHOTOS.

MY FATHER,BEFORE HE DIED HE REVEALED TO ME ABOUT THE SUM OF $7.95 MILLION US
DOLLARS,WHICH HE DEPOSITED WITH ONE BERCLEYS BANK IN THE UNITED KINGDOM FOR
SAFE KEEPING. MY FATHER DID NOT DISCLOSE HOW TO GET THE FUNDS TO ME BECAUSE
HE DID NOT ESPECT HIS DEATH AND SO THE BANK ASK ME TO PRODUCE SOME ONE WHO
WILL HELP ME GET THE FUNDS INTO HIS ACCOUNT.*

*AFTER THE DEATH OF MY FATHER, OUR FAMILY LAWYER BROUGHT THE DOCUMENTS
COVERING THE DEPOSITS OF SEVEN AND NINETY FIVE MILLION AMERICAN DOLLARS, IN
THE CARE OF THE BANK UNDER A FOREIGN BENEFICIARY TO ME.

PRESENTLY I AM IN A REFUGEE CAMP BECAUSE MY UNCLES AND SOME OF THE MESSAHS
WANTS ME DEAD, SO THEY CAN HAVE INHERITANCE TO ALL MY FATHERS PROPERTIES. SO
NOW,I INTEND TO MOVE MY PROPERTIES, THE MONEY FROM THE BANK. AND OUT OF
AFRICA FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES. THIS IS WHY I NEED A FOREIGNER WHO CAN GO
DOWN TO THE UNITED KINGDOM AND STAND AS THE FOREIGN BENEFICIARY AND
BUSSINESS COLLEAGUE OF MY FATHER, AND HELP ME CARRY THE VALUABLES OUT OF
LONDON THROUGH TRANSFER.

IF U CANNOT FLY TO LONDON THEN LET ME KNOW SO THAT I CAN SEND YOU ALL THE
VITAL DOCUMENTS AND ALSO GIVE YOU THE CONTACT INFORMATIONS OF THE BANK OR MY
FATHERS LAWYER SO THAT YOU CAN HELP OUT. *

*FOR YOUR MUTUAL ASSISTANCE, I HAVE AGREED TO OFFER YOU 40% OF THE TOTAL
AMOUNT OF THE MONEY.*

*I HAVE ALL THE VITAL DOCUMENTS COVERING THE DEPOSIT AND THE OWNERSHIP WHICH
I CAN SEND TO YOU.

NOTE:I HAVE NEVER DISCLOSED THIS TO ANY PERSON APART FROM YOU,SO YOU HAVE TO
KEEP THIS TRANSACTION AND DETAILS AS A TOP SECRET TO YOURSELF ALONE. *

*THANK U*

*YOURS SINCERELY
TAS MESSAH*

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