joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: paul kwame <paul_kwame2000@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2005 16:02:12 -0800 (PST)
Subject: cry for help


HELLOW DEAR FRIEND,

THIS LETTER MIGHT COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISED SINCE WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY PREVIOUS CORESPONDENCE.THIS IS AS A RESULT OF THE HELPLESS SITUATION I FOUND MYSELF INTO. MY NAME IS PAUL , I AM 23 YEARS OLD BOY ,I GOT YOUR CONTACT DURING MY SEARCH FOR A RELIABLE, CAPABLE AND TRUSTWORTHY PERSON THAT CAN ASSIST ME IN THIS DARKEST MOMENT OF MY LIFE.
I LOST MY FATHER, MOTHER AND TWO SISTERS,TWO BROTHERS WITH OUR FAMILY HOUSE DURING THE BOMB EXPLOSION AT THE ARMY CANTONMENT (BARRACKS). I AM ALIVE WRITING YOU BECAUSE I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE OUTSIDE HOME AT THE TIME OF THE EXPLOSIONS. I AM WRITING YOU NOW FROM OUR CHURCH WHERE THE VICTIMS OF THE EXPLOSION ARE KEPT INCLUDING MYSELF. NO HOUSE, NO GOOD HEALTH,

BEFORE MY FATHER'S SUDDEN DEATH, HE KEPT THE SUM OF US$6,000,000.00 (SIX MILLION US DOLLARS) IN CASH WITH A PRIVATE SECURITY AND FINANCECOMPANY.NOW THAT HE IS LATE AND I AM THE ONLY ONE LEFT BEHIND. I AM WRITING YOU TO ASSIST ME RECEIVE THIS MONEY IN YOUR COUNTRY, INVEST IT IN A PROFITABLE BUSINESS AND RELOCATE ME TO JOIN YOU IMMEDIATELY. AS A RESULT OF INSECURITY OF LIFE AND PROPERTY HERE, I DO NOT WANT TO STAY HERE ANY LONGER.

PLEASE INDICATE YOUR READYNESS TO ASSIST ME,SO THAT ALL THE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS FUNDS WILL BE PASSED TO YOU IMMEDIATELY. SEND TO ME YOUR TEL/FAX NUMBERS FOR EASY COMMUNICATION.
AND ALSO ASSURE ME YOU WILL NOT BETRAY ME AT THE END THIS TRANSACTION KEEP THIS TO YOURSELF ONLY. IF THIS TRANSACTION IS PROPERLY EXECUTED, I AM PREPARED TO GIVE YOU 30% OF THE TOTAL SUM FOR YOUR KIND ASSISTANCE.
REGARDS,
PAUL





---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Sports - Sign up for Fantasy Baseball.

Anti-fraud resources: