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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: "Trina Brautigam" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <btrina00@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2014 01:50:06 -0800
Subject: Very Urgent I Need Your Help=From Trina Brautigam

Dear Friend

I am sorry to encroach into your privacy in this manner. I found you listed in the Trade Center Chambers of Commerce directory here in Afghanistan, I Pleasurable to offer you my partnership in business.I only pray at this time that your address is still valid. I want to solicit your attention to receive money on my behalf.

I am TRINA BRAUTIGAM,an officer in the US Army,and also a West Point Graduate presently serving in the Military with the 82nd Air Borne Division Peace keeping force in Kabul, Afghanistan. I am desperately in need of assistance and I have summoned up courage to contact you. I am presently in Afghanistan and I found your contact particulars in an internet address journal. I am seeking your assistance to evacuate the sum of $16,700,000(Six Million Seven Hundred Thousand USD) to the States or any safe country of your choice, as far as I can be assured that it will be safe in your care until I complete my service here.

This is not a stolen money and there are no Risk involved. Actually it is part of funds that we discovered from the residence of fleeing Opium farmers in Afghanistan. If you can be can be trusted i will explain further when i get a response from you. I will send the money over to your country, so that you will receive it for me before I can start coming over to your country to establish any profitable investment you may suggest. Let me know your mind on this urgent matter and please do treat this information as TOP SECRET. Please ensure to reply me Immediately if you want to help me.

Respectfully,

Sgt Trina Brautigam

United States Military Army. Afghanistan
.
E-mail: trina.brautigam00@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources: