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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: " Mrs Rachael James" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <racjame1@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 15 Jun 2012 08:20:20 +0100
Subject: From Mrs Rachael James

Dearest in Christ,

Greetings to you, I am Mrs. Rachael James from United Kingdom.
I was married to Mr. Tom James who worked with a construction company in
Asia for twenty Years before he died in the disasters, we were married
but without Any children.

I am now suffering from long time breast Cancer and Cancer of the
lungs, from all indications my condition is really deteriorating and
it is quite obvious that i won't live more than 2 months according to
my doctor, this is because the cancer stage has gotten to a very bad
stage.Since Tom's death I decided not to re-marry. I deposited a
certain amount in a bank and now i am willing to donate this sum to
the less privileged and to contribute to development of mosque and church in
Africa, America, Asia, and Europe.

My late husband was a very wealthy and after his death, I inherited
all his business and wealth, Presently this money is still with the
bank and the management just Wrote me as the beneficiary to come
forward to receive the money or rather Issue a letter of authorization
to somebody to receive it on my behalf If I cannot come over. I am
presently in a hospital where I have been undergoing treatment for
Cancer of the lungs, I have since lost my ability to talk and my
doctors have told me that I have only a few months to Live. Please i
want you to note that this money is lying in the Bank.

I want a person that is trustworthy that will utilize 90% of this
money to fund churches, orphanages and widows around the world but in
my name "Mrs.Rachel James" As soon as I receive your reply I shall
give you the contact of the bank. I will also issue you a letter of
authority that will prove you as The new beneficiary of this fund.
Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated herein and
Keep this contact confidential till such a time this funds get to your
Custody, this is to ensure that nothing jeopardizes my last wish on
Earth.

I await your urgent reply.

Yours In Christ,

Anti-fraud resources: