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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: "Tony Brown" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <courier.express99@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 9 Jan 2011 03:28:10 -0800
Subject: EBFILGQXRX

Dear Sir/Ma,
 
As an Accounts Manager; l am sending you my proposal letter as
regards looking for a reliable partner, someone who is trustworthy
that l can entrust certain capital funds in his/her provided bank account.
 
An inherited funds was deposited in my care for the past 5yrs by a
deceased who bears the same last name with you. I purposely contacted
you for the main fact that the transaction will be easier for me to front
you for the claim of the funds without any problem in procuring all the
legitimate documents needed in your name as the next of kin to the
deceased.
 
In this process, in order to proceed ahead you are going to play a vital
role after the conclusion of the transaction, You are going to assist me
with my share of the fund in any lucrative or profitable investment
purpose in your country which will benefit both parties involved and
which will be successful?
 
I am willing to invest with the fund but you must be a trustworthy
person because I have been scammed by one American Business
Merchant that absconded with the fund we both executed successfully
and all efforts to trace him failed because all the details provided about
him stated below was a wrong information.
 
Randall Johnston
600 Main Street, Bar Harbor,
Maine 04609, USA
Tel: +1 207 950 0963
Email: randalljohnston@upmail.us
 
If you know you are the sincere type, l am ready to do the business
with you, provided you are going to be honest with me.
 
Thanks,
My Regards,
Tony Brown
Tel: +44 704 571 1792

Anti-fraud resources: