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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: MARK TAYLOR <mac.tay60@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2014 13:03:53 +0200
Subject: GET BACK TO ME URGENTLY

Dear Friend,

With due respect, I observe every protocols and pay all due
compliments. As you may already know my name is Mark Taylor, one of
the sons of Charles Taylor, former president of the Republic of
Liberia.

You may also be aware that my father is presently facing a jail term
in UK for charges boarding on crimes committed by various factions
during the protracted civil war in my country Liberia

For reasons that are sufficiently obvious, my mother and I have been
leaving in exile as refugees ever since my father was ousted from
power and subsequently arrested and taken to the Hague to face those
frivolous charges. Currently, I leave in the United Kingdom and have
been on the look-out for worthy humanitarian on whom we can repose
some trust and confidence. So when we were given your compliment, we
resolved to give it a trial.

The only possession left for my mother and I is the sum of sixty
million US dollars for which we have been seeking a trustee into whose
custody we can transfer same for viable investment. We are willing to
part with 15% of this fund to you as personal gratuity if you agree to
help out. You will have to use your vast business experience to
determine areas of investment.

If this offer and conditions are accepted by you please indicate
soonest and my mother and I can get a lawyer to draft a memorandum of
understanding immediately to precede the transfer of the fund to you.
Your kind and honest response will be highly appreciated. This matter
is treated with utmost secrecy and confidentiality for obvious
reasons.

Best regards.
Mark C. Taylor

Anti-fraud resources: