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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: "Akintola Williams" <akintolawilliams@msn.com>
Date: Fri, 09 Sep 2005 08:37:51 +0000
Subject: BUSINESS PROPOSAL!!

The Comptroller:Mr AKINTOLA WILLIAMS
 Dear Sir,
                                     BUSINESS PROPOSAL!!                                  
  
Kindly allow me to crave your indulgence at the informal and the unusual ways of my approach, based on the purpose of this contact. I am a comptroller under the (NIGERIA CUSTOM AND EXERCISE) serving in Lagos.
 
During a routine check my men discovered one Unpacked box with seals. Said to contained photographic papers, but on my close examination I discovered that it was (AMERICAN DOLLARS) I then conveyed it to the (CUSTOM ENFORCEMENT AGENCY). For proper examination.
 
Moreover, after the final examination it was $18,000,000,00 (eighteen million dollars)I then collided with the officers involved in the examination to take it out from the custom enforcement agency and replace it with genuine photographic papers.
 
And as a civiL servant we cannot afford further accumulated charges from the company. So therefore, it is for this reason that we are seeking your Co-operation to avail this huge amount of money to your country for [Banking and investment] purpose. For the fact that it is not wise for us as a civil servant to invest it in our Country. And besides our position as civil servants makes it unwise for us to establish.
 
The save was deposited in a security company for security reasons, the certificate of deposite will fax or scan to you and the letter that you will use in demanding the transfer of the save from the vault company to your house. as their will be no pre-ondition for trust as the circumstances quarantees it.
 
We have map out 15% for you 10% for the charities and another 10% for the local and international expenditures that may be incured in the process of this transaction.
 
Thank you for your anticipated cooperation and let the angels of God continued to giude and protect us Amen.
 
Waiting to hear from you soon.
 
We remain.
 

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