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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: Mr Frank Thomas <salvatorecirota@alice.it>
Reply-To: western07union.office@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 11 Oct 2013 13:40:49 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: Your First Transfer MTCN=0741370142

Good News Sender name= Jason Callahan MTCN=0741370142 Question=very
Answer=urgent Amount=$5.000 My Dear Friend. Your first payment of $5.000
was sent call receiver name Chris Oba country Benin Question A Answer B
+229-68172967 to give you the mtcn number email;(w_0_f@dgoh.org)
Send him the transfer charges $105 only your total amount in his custody is
$2.5.000.000.00 usd only.Forward him your full receivers details;your name,
phone number,country name,receivers address,occupation,sex,city,age,
Regards Mr.Frank Thomas

Anti-fraud resources: