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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: "Vanessa Idriss" <vanessaidriss99@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 21 Sep 2016 23:06:06 +0900 (KST)
Subject: I need your reply urgent

Good Morning,

Please accept my apology for any inconveniences my letter may cause you, I came across your contact information and decided to contact you after prayers for the transfer of my inherited sum of $1,800.000 (One million eight hundred thousand United States Dollars) which my father left in the bank before his death. I am Miss VANESSA IDRISS from Ivory Coast. My father was killed in Abidjan during the political crisis in my country in 2011 which made me become an orphan and the only surviving child. Since the death of my father, life has been so difficult for me in my country and my wicked uncle wants me dead so that he can seat comfortable to claim my inheritance, because of the way he was maltreating me i decided to run away from the family house to hide myself in a local guest house in my country so that i can have chance for the transfer of the money.

My late father left the money in a fixed deposit in the bank with me as the next of kin but due to my age as a little girl the bank wants me to appoint my guardian or caretaker who should stand on my behalf to receive the money from the bank as part of the agreement which the bank signed with my late father during the time of the deposit. Therefore I want you to stand as my foreign caretaker or guardian and help me for the transfer of the US$1,800,000 into your bank account so that I will come over to your country to continue my education and you will help me to invest the money in good business. According to the bank manager, he assured me that the bank will do everything possible to process the release and transfer of the money immediately I introduce my caretaker or guardian to the bank and that the transaction would be completed within few days without any obstruction.

I promise to reward you with 20% of the total money after the successful transfer into your account as my compensation for your assistance. As soon as you indicate interest to assist me I shall give you more details about me and the money and then I shall go to the bank to introduce you for the transaction. I do not want my wicked uncle to kill me and take over the money, i need your urgent help please.  I hope to hear back from you soon.

Thanks with lots of love.

Miss Vanessa Idriss.

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