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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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Fraud email example:

From: "Yerima Micheal" <contacts_me@libero.it> (may be fake)
Reply-To: yerima10nz@yahoo.co.nz
Date: Sun, 6 Jan 1980 20:59:16 +0000
Subject: Assistance

Dear Sir,
First let me use this medium to introduce myself, I am Micheal Yerima, 28 years old from Kono district north of Freetown SIERRA-LEONE West Africa.
My late father DR.YERIMA JULIUS before his death was the
Director General of the Mines and Steel Department of the ministry of
solid minerals in Sierra-Leone. The September 11, 2001 bombings of the
world trade center, which claimed the lives of thousands of people, also
claimed the life of my father.
Before his travel to United States of America, has already handed over
some documents to me, which reveals that he has deposited a sealed box
that contains $4, 680.000.00 million (Four million, six hundred and
eighty thousand United States dollars). Deposited in prime bank
here in Accra the capital city of Ghana, which my name is the next of
kin.
Since the death of my father the rebel has held us hostage until the
recent intervention of the UNITED NATION SECRETARY GENERAL, MR. Koffi Annan whom secures a peace agreement with the rebels that led to our release, all the refugees moved to GHANA concentrated in the refugee camp.
I am presently in the refugee camp because of the war in our country. I
am seeking for your help and assistance for you to come to my aid. I
propose that you stand as my late father foreign business partner, so as
to get the fund out from bank and transfer it to your country where we can make use of it in a lucrative business investment in your country.
This transaction is now only known by you, me and my old sick mother whom is with me in the camp waiting for the time I get a reliable person. Please the secrecy and confidentiality should be maintained. I will be sending over to you by fax or email attachment the original lodgement receipt which the bank gave to my father at the time of deposit.
These funds was deposited with a secret code not by any name or any
person, that means it will be more easy for you to transfer the money and
I withhold the secret code for security reasons as you show interest, the
secret code and the lodgement receipt will be given to you upon your
arrival and held a meeting with me and my mother we can now proceed to
the bank to retrieve the FUNDS for investment in your country.
My mother and I have agreed to compensate you with 20% from the total sum and 5% for your expenses. Please get back to me as soon as
possible, you can also send me your private fax and telephone numbers,
for more confidential discussions. You can also reply me via:
yerima10nz@yahoo.co.nz <mailto:yerima10nz@yahoo.co.nz>
Best Regards,
Yerima Micheal


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