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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: "LUISA ESTRADA" <luisa_estrada@msn.com>
Reply-To: luisa_estrada10@katamail.com
Date: Sat, 10 Sep 2005 06:39:17 +0000
Subject: MY FAMILY NEEDS URGENT REPRESENTATIVE

Dear Friend,
 
How are you today? i like to introduce  myself to you briefly, I am Senator Luisa Pimentel Estrada, a 74years old lady and the first wife of Joseph Ejercito Estrada (former head of state and President of Philippines) who is presently held in detention in a hospital outside manilla,Philippines. However, the current administration of Gloria Arroyo(The President of Philippines) present Government have resolved to freeze all known assets of Joseph Ejercito Estrada including properties at home and abroad and are presently embarking on to seize the various bank accounts of my Husband in Switzerland,UK and Australia. We cannot be held responsible for the sins of my Husband
 
In view of this plight, I expect you to be trustworthy and kind enough to respond to this distressed call to save our family from a hopeless future. And if you agree to help, we shall discuss the disbursement ratio in our next correspondence after we have been acquainted. In fact, the attack on our family (The Estrada's) is so devastated to an extent of seizing our traveling passport, family accounts, trying some members of our family in court for offences allegedly committed by my Husband and even restrict us from seeing my husband. I have carefully moved out these funds (US$72 million), before my husband was impeached to an offshore Deposit Company. From past experiences, many people I had regarded as close friends has  capitalize on my family's travail to run away with my money.
 
In order to avert this negative development, I in conjunction with my son (DANIEL) now seek your permission to allow my attorney do a CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP/REASSIGNMENT OF CREDIT of stated funds from the deposit company to your name, so that the funds (US$72million) would be released to you as the new owner (on behalf of me and my family). I am writing because when I deposited the money in the deposit company, I told them that it belonged to a foreign business partner and my present position will not allow me to claim the funds. Consequently, I will
present you as the owner of the funds in the Deposit Company so you can be able to claim them. This is simple. I will like you to provide immediately; 1. Full names 2. Contact address 3. Telephone and fax numbers. Once I receive this information, we will prepare the necessary
documents that will put you in place as the new owner of the funds. The money will then be released to your custody by the Deposit Company, for us to share.
 
I will be anxiously waiting for your swift response via this email
address: luisa_estrada10@katamail.com

for proceedings.
 
Thanks and regards,
Luisa Pimentel Estrada

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