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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: "Thomas Lawson" <tlawson971@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: tlawson972@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 28 Jun 2005 11:47:17 +0100
Subject: I NEED YOUR HELP.

Dear Friend,

As you read this, I don't want you to feel sorry for me because I believe
everyone will die someday. My name is Thomas Lawson, a business merchant in
Dubai, in the U.A.E. I have been diagnosed with Esophageal cancer which was
discovered very late, due to my laxity in caring for my health. It has
defiled all forms of medicine, and right now I have only about a few months
to live, according to medical experts. I have not particularly lived my life
so well, as I never really cared for anyone not even myself but my business.
Though I am very rich, I was never generous, I was always hostile to people
and only focus on my business as that was the only thing I cared for. But
now I regret all these as I now know that there is more to life than just
wanting to have or make all the money in the world. I believe if I will have
a second chance to come to this world I would live my life a different way
from how I have lived it. Now that I have been called, I have willed and
given most of my properties and assets to my immediate and extended family
members and as well as a few close friends. I want my sins to be forgiven
and my soul being accepted. I have decided to give alms to charity
organizations, as I want this to be one of the last good deeds I do on
earth. So far, I have distributed money to some charity organizations in the
U.A.E, Algeria and Malaysia. Now that my health has deteriorated so badly, I
cannot do this myself any more. I once asked members of my family to close
one of my accounts and distribute the money which I have there to charity
organization in Bulgaria and Pakistan, they refused and kept the money to
themselves. Hence, I do not trust them anymore, as they seem not to be
contended with what I have left for them. The last of my money which no one
knows of is the huge cash deposit of Twenty Five Million United States
Dollars ($25,000,000.00) in consignment which I deposited in form of my
personal valuables with a security company in Europe. I will want you to
help me collect this deposit and dispatch it to charity organizations.

I have set aside 10% for you for your time and patience.

I await your prompt response.

God bless you.

Thomas Lawson.


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