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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: "Woo Liang" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <wooliang@mynet.com>
Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2011 14:35:39 +0100
Subject: Next of kin.

Good day.
I am Woo Liang of Shanghai Commericial Bank Ltd, Hong Kong. I have a business proposal for you. A transfer of fourteen million, five hundred thousand united states dollars was deposited by one of our late customer who died without declaring any next of kin before his death in 2004. Against this backdrop, my proposal to you is to stand as the next of kin to Mr Henry Ting, So you will be able to receive this funds to your own nominated bank account, we shall share in the ratio of 60% for me, 40% for you. Your full names, address & telephone numbers including a fax line are needed.
Regards,
Woo Liang.

Anti-fraud resources: