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: "Sonny Laye" <sonny_s_laye@chillimail.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: sonny_laye1@yahoo.ca
Date: Fri, 4 Mar 2005 15:54:18 +0100
Subject: Hello

Hello Goodday,

Please I am Master Sonny Laye,
the only son of late chief Joseph Alfred Laye from Sierra Leone.
I know that my message will come to you as a surprise to you but however,
I am writing you in absolute confidence primarily to seek your assistance
to transfer our cash of nine million eight hundred thousand
dollars ($9,800,000) now in the custody of a BANK here in Abidjan
to your private account pending our arrival to your country.

SOURCE OF THE MONEY
My late father, chief Joseph Alfred Laye ,
a native of mende district in the Northern province of Sierra Leone,
was the general Manager of Sierra Leone mining co-operation (S.L.M.C.) Freetown.
According to my father. This money was the income acquired from
mining co-operation's over draft and minor sales. Before the peak
of the civil war between the rebels forces of major Paul Koroma and
the combined forces of ECOMOG peace keeping operation that almost destroyed My country,
following the forceful removal from power of the Civilian Elected President Ahmed
Tejan Kabbah by the rebels. My father had already made arrangement for his family,
my mother, my little sister and myself to be evacuated to Abidjan,
Cote d'Ivoire with our personal effects.

My father deposited the fund in the BANK until after the war when he will join us.
During the war in my country, and following the indiscriminate looting of public
and Government properties by the rebel forces, the Sierra Leone mining coop.
was one of the targets looted and destroyed.

My father including other top Government functionaries Were attacked and killed by
the rebels in November 1999 because of his relationship with the civilian Government
of Ahmed Tejan Kabbah.As a result of my father death, and with the news of my uncles
involvement in air crash in January, dashed our hope of survival. The untimely deaths
caused my mother heart failure and other related complications of which she later
died in the hospital After we must have spent a lot of money on her.

Now my 10-year-old sister and myself are alone in this strange country suffering
without any care or help. Without any relation, we are now like refugees and orphans.
Our only hope now is in this fund, which our father deposited in the BANK To this effect,
I humbly solicit your assistance in the followings ways. To assist me claim this fund
from the BANK as co-beneficiary. To transfer this money in your name to your country.

To make a good arrangement for a joint business investment on our behalf in your
country and you being the caretaker. To secure a college for my little sister and
my self in your country to further our education. And to make arrangement for our
travel to meet you face to face in your country after you have transferred this fund.
Most importantly. The whole documents issued after deposit are in my custody.
For your assistance, I beg to concede 20% of this money to you for your efforts and assistance.
Please include your phone/fax number on reply. You can send your reply to this alternative

Email:sonny_laye1@yahoo.ca

Thanks and God bless.
Best regards,
Master SonnyLaye and Sister.



Anti-fraud resources: