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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: "DR MARIA SAMORA." <drmaria@zipmail.com.br> (may be fake)
Date: Mon, 4 Jul 2005 15:12:36 +0100
Subject: LEST DO THIS TOGETHER.

Dear Friend,

Compliments. I am {DR MARIA} a Staff of INTERNATIONAL
COMMERCIAL BANK OF GHANA , I head the Audit
Department. During the course of the year auditing, I
discovered that a certain amount has remained
unclaimed. I discovered that this amount belongs to
one Mr. Greg Lelyton of USA who died in the motor
accident that occured some time in a village in Ghana.
And he left no next of Kin to contact to inherit his
account. He has left a total of US$15.4M Dollars in
his account with our bank, since nobody has appeared
as his next of kin. I now want to use this opportunity
to contact you to front as the next of kin, by
providing an account where we can secure this money
and use it for investment purposes. For providing this
account, you will be compensated with 20% of the total
value. We will use 10% to offset all charges that may
arise in the cost of this transaction, 70% will be for
investment into any lucreative business with high
profit margin and good turnover rate under your
management and supervision. Therefore,if you are
interested and capable of handling a business of this
magnitude, do not hesitate to acknowledge my mail
urgently as I have all the logistics to commence the
treansfer on provision of the receiving bank/account
expected from you. I will use my official position in
the bank to ensure that due approvals are granted for
the remittance to your account. This business is risk
free and can be concluded within 14 bank working days
from the date of your approval to the date of
remittance, but for my security and my job position
this must be kept highly confidential. All I need from
you is your ddress/telephone/fax/mobile lines banking
particulars for easier communication. I expect to hear
from you soon. NB. Please nobody knows about this
business except you and I therefore you are required
to maintain absolutely confidentiality in this
transaction. My regards to you and your family.
Awaiting your immediate responds.
PLEASE REPLY ON THIS EMAIL ADDRESS; drmaria3@yahoo.com

Thanks and God bless.
Best regard,
DR Maria Samora.



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