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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: "KATINA HINGA" <katina_hinga@she.com> (may be fake)
Date: Mon, 8 Aug 2005 13:35:46 +0700
Subject: Goodday

DEAR SIR,


I AM MS.KATINA HINGA,THE WIFE OF LATE HAJI DR.RASHIDI HINGA WHO WAS THE HEAD OF DARFUR PROVINCE IN SUDAN BEFORE HE WAS KILLED IN THE CRISIS IN MY COUNTRY.THIS GOVERNMENT SPONSORED CRISIS HAS CLAIMED THE LIVES OF OVER THREE QUARTERS OF THE WHOLE PEOPLE OF DARFUR.MY HUSBAND WAS KILLED WITH ALL OUR PROPERTY DESTROYED.I MANAGED TO ESCAPE WITH OUR ONLY SON WITH ASSISTANCE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE RED CRESCENT.

I AM CURRENTLY IN THAILAND WITH OUR ONLY SURVIVING SON MUSA WHO SPENT ALL HIS LIFE IN OUTSIDE BEFORE NOW.I WISH TO SAY THAT I HAVE GONE THROUGH YOUR COMPANY PROFILE AND FOUND OUT THAT YOU HAVE VERY MANY GOOD PRODUCTS AND THAT YOUR COMPANY IS GROWING VERY FAST AS A RESULT OF SOUND MANAGEMENT. I AM GLAD TO INFORM YOU THAT I AM
VERY MUCH INTERESTED IN YOUR COMPANY OF WHICH I AM INTERESTED TO INVEST THE MONEY I INHERITED FROM MY LATE HUSBAND IN YOUR COMPANY SO THAT YOU CAN MANAGE IT FOR US.THE WHOLE AMOUNT INVOLVED IS $25 MILLION(TWENTY FIVE MILLIONDOLLARS).

IT IS CURRENTLY SECURED AS FAMILY TREASURE WITH A MULTI-NATIONAL SECURITY COMPANY IN THAILAND.I WILL LIKE TO DISCUSS WITH YOU ON THE MODALITIES OF INVESTING IT IN YOUR COMPANY AFTER RECIEVING MAIL FROM YOU .

WAITING FOR YOUR MAIL.
BEST REGARDS.
MS.KATINA HINGA,
FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE FAMILY.


Anti-fraud resources: