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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: Williams Smith <w_simth011@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: w_smith012@yahoo.com.ph
Date: Sun, 30 Oct 2011 00:08:16 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: From Williams Smith





>From Williams Smith
Abidjan-Cote d'Ivoire
 
Dear Sir/Madam,
 
Good day to you. I am Williams Smith the Son of the late assassinated senator in Zimbabwe Mr. Marume Smith, I saw your impressive profile on the internet and after much prayers, I was moved to contact you believing that you can be relied on to handle a very important business transaction on behalf of my family. but presently I am in Abidjan, capital city of Ivory Coast in West Africa for some months now. My mother Mrs. Tabitha Marume, was shot and killed by soldiers at Chiwetu Rest Camp, Percy Muchiwa, for more verification, here is the web site www.allafrica.com/stories/200805010665.html
 
I want you to assist me withdraw and transfer my dad money the sum of (US$8.5M) which he deposited in one of the prime bank based here in Ivory Coast into your account in your country and also take me out of here that had made me orphan. Why I contacted you was that I went to the bank to withdraw this money since my late father use my name as the next of kin to the deposit but I was told by the bank that my late father made an agreement with them that I have to get to the age of 25years before I can make claim of the money or alternatively I should provide a guardian who can make the claim on my behalf and that was why I contacted you. I humbly need your assistance in the following ways:
 
1) To help get this money transferred to you.
2) To serve as the guardian and foreign beneficiary of the deposited money
3) To make an arrangement for me to come over after this money is transferred.
4) To look for a good venture where the money will be invested.
5) I am ready to compensate you with 25% for your effort transferring the money to your account.

Please I need your urgent response, for me not to look for another person to transfer the money in his or her account and I am urgently waiting your response so that I can not look for another foreign partner as I said.
 
Thank you and May God bless you and your dear family.
 
Yours sincerely
Williams Smith

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