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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: JOHN ADDO SMITH <jaddosmith1@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2014 10:07:38 +0000
Subject: Greetings to you..

Greetings,


I am Mr.John Addo, 24 years of age..The only living child of late Mr
Micheal Addo Bruce.

I know that this letter will be a very big surprise to you and I have
tried so many times today to reach you and i hope you have received
this email, My Name is John Addo the only Living child to Late Mr and
Mrs Micheal Addo Bruce, My Father was working with the Federal Minting
and Security Printing Corporation and formal Director of Gold Gate
mining Company here in West Africa.My Father died in air crash n
France while my mum was diagnosed with ovarian cancer disease which
doctors have confirmed that She had just few days to leave.

As she was ending the race like this,without any family members around
her She instructed in a note she sent to me through her Medical doctor
from the hospital where she was taken treatment to contact the African
Security Financial Development Institute Lome Togo quickly regarding
the Money which My Father deposited in a Financial Institution
(SECURITY COMPANY) for investment in other to help myself for living
in Life. Few hours later doctor confirmed her dead at the hospital.

The total money in question is $12.8 million dollars Deposited in a
Security Volt with the African Security Financial Development
Institute Lome Togo. But before introducing you to the Bank and
handing over the data to you, kindly assure me that you will take only
40% of the money when the security company send the money to you. I
went to the Security company and they told me that my Father
instructed that i have to present an investor/company or a respected
individual that can take care of Me and the fund in His or Her country
for investment before the fund could be released because of my age.

The Security Institute is now awaiting for whom I will present to
contact them for the claim that is the reason i have contacted you,
But before Changing of ownership and handing over the deposit data and
papers to you, kindly assure me that you will take good care of the
money because there are 2 things i want you to help me for now(1) To
present you to the Security company as My Fathers Foreign partner.(2)
To help me invest this fund in your country

Note that the Security institution is aware of my late Fathers
decision over the fund and willing to welcome whom it may concern I
will introduce to contact them, it will only cost you for change of
ownership according to the bank, and please don't be discouraged about
the change of ownership because at this stage if no one apply for the
money it will go to bank treasury as uncliam fund.

Please reach me as soon as you get this email with your,Full
name,Country, direct telephone number and email address so I can brief
you on the situation at hand.(jaddosmith2000@outlook.com)

Thanks
Mr.John Addo

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