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: "Reuben Massaquoi" <rubymass120@yahoo.fr> (may be fake)
Date: Wed, 9 Mar 2005 16:34:01 +0000
Subject: intending to hear from you urgently

Att:Sir
I know you'll receive this proposal will come to you as a surprise,noting the fact that we never had any knid of prior discussion to this effect,allthingsbeing equal I would like you to treat the letter as a matter of urgency to enable it see the light of the day.
I am Reuben Massaquoi the son of a late mr. Lambert Massaquoi from the Republic of sierra leonian and a former diamond dealer Who died some years during the country brutal and devastiating civil conflict when the RUF revolutionary united front rebels over runned Bo town, Sierra leone,however Following the cease fire agreement that was brokered with the help of United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone peace(UNASIL,we used the oppoturnity to leave the country into neighbouring Republic of Guinee and last to the Republic of Senegal where we are presently seek Asylum at the UNHCR as refugees
Meanwhile my main purpose of contact is for you to assist us in the facilitation of fund deposited by my late father in Amsterdam the NETHERLANDS into your country and lastly help us invest into lucrative sector of your country's economy, this money was realised from diamond export during the heat of the civil war and its at the tone of(US$7.500.000) Seven million five hundred thousand U.S Dollars deposited by my late father in security company in Amsterdam the NETHERLANDS on my name as the next of kin.
My second main reason of contacting you is that I received an communique from the Security Company warning that I should do all in possible best and interest to dislodge the money because of the in european monetary regulatory system that is coming place soon because ofits expansion. we're advised to get an individual,organisation / company to stand as our oversea partners and beneficiary of the fund since the money cannot be released to me as the next of kin considering my status here as a refugee.
The document are with me right now in Senegal, it will be faxed to you upon request.which will emphasis the authenticity of the transfer and the legitimacy of the subject matter.
Nevertheless For your assistance and co-operation we will give you 15%of the total sum realised after the sucessfully transfer of this money.
Please kindly communicate your acceptance of this proposal so that we can discuss the modalities of seeing this transaction through and so that I can get an attorney to put together a comprehensive draft agreement to facilitate the transfer/transaction.
We count greatly on your assistance. Awaiting to to hear from you soon.
Your Sincerely
Reuben.


Anti-fraud resources: