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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: "MRS. MARGRET DEAN" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <barrjamesraphael@aol.com>
Date: Thu, 19 May 2011 12:51:26 +0200
Subject: My Dear Friend,

My Dear Friend,

Do not be surprised, is God’s Work. I decided to donate the sum of $10,000,000.00 (Ten Million United States Dollars) to you for the good work of the Lord, and also to help the Motherless and less privilege and also for the assistance of the widows according to (James1:27).

My name is Mrs. Margaret Dean; I am dying women who have decided to donate what I have for you in order to use it for the benefit of our nation and the rest of our citizenry. I am a native of Russian Federation , but my husband is from London . I was diagnosed for cancer about years ago, immediately after the death of my husband, who had left me everything he worked for.

I have adjusted my WILL and my Executor is aware I have changed my will; you and he will arrange for the change of ownership of the funds as it is presently deposited in Barclays Bank, and lodged the box in a coded Security company whose name is Access International.

Contact my Executor: Barrister James Raphael wit h this specified email: barr.jamesrahael@yahoo.co.uk OR barrjamesraphael@aol.com

with your full names contact telephone/fax number and your full address and tell him that I have WILLED sum ($10,000, 000.00) to you and I have also notified him that I am WILLING that amount to you for a specific and good work. I know, I don't know you but my spirit have been directed to do this, while am still in sick bed waiting for an operation tomorrow morning.

Sincerely

Margaret Dean

Anti-fraud resources: