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: "SHERIFF GUEI" <dr_sher1@yahoo.co.in> (may be fake)
Date: Thu, 25 Aug 2005 10:10:32 +0000
Subject: FROM DR SHERIFF

Dear Sir,

I have made up my mind to contact you for assistance, after considering your outstanding performance in business.
With whole confidence and belief,my thought saw your name,as a reliable person to co-operate in joint venture partnership.
I am,Sheriff Guei,the son of Mr. Benjamin Guei. My father Mr. Benjamin Guei was the former economic adviser on petroleum to the Head of state of Equatorial Guinea.
who died on 19 September 2002, during the military coup'detat. My Father acquired and deposited two diplomatic boxes with Goldlink security company in Ghana, containing $26,2 million US Dollars) including other vital family valueables.
Before he died arrangement was on,for him to move this money to (Overseas) through a Diplomatic Immunity by the Security Company.I am therefore contacting you for an assistant so that the consignment should be claimed from Goldlink security Company.If you can't be be here in person for the collection of the consignment/fund,you can instruct Goldlink security company to use there Diplomatic Immunity to ship the consignments to your nominated country oversea.
Note that the company did not know the exact contents of the boxes,it was rather labelled/registered as family valuables for security reason.
I will also need your assistance for investing the money in your country i shall be sending you all the documents issued to my late father by Goldlink Security Comapny after your acceptance,my mother and I have agreed to compensate you with 30% from the total Sum. Please note that time is not on our side.
I will appreciate if you can get in touch with me as soon as possible so that I can give you more information about my proposals.You should be assured that there is nothing to worry about,as all the arrangements will be handled legally and we will be here to guide and advise you on what to do till the consignmet gets to your postion.
You are to give us guarantee that the boxes will be well secured on reaching your position and that you will not take advantage of our situation nor seat on the fund.
I will stop here until i hear positively from you.
Sheriff Guei.
(for the family)


Anti-fraud resources: