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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "VIVIAN RODIGRUEZ" <vivian_rodigruez05@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: ladyvivian@zipmail.com.br
Date: Sun, 11 Sep 2005 15:49:34 -0500
Subject: LET ME KNOW PLZ

From Mrs.Vivian Rodigruez
Hello my dear friend,
Forgive my indignation if this message comes to you as a surprise and may
offend your personality for contacting you
without your prior consent and writing through this channel.I got your
contact from searching for a reliable and honest person that will assist me
safeguard fund .divinely inspired to pick your name among other names found
after series of prayers/fasting for Gods direction. I am Mrs.Vivian phillip
Rodigruez. person from Colombia undergoing medical treatment. I was married
to Dr. phillip Rodigruez who worked with Malaysia embassy in South Africa
for nine years before he died in the year 2000.We were married for twenty
years without a child. He died after a brief illness that lasted for only
four days. Before his death we were both born again Christians. Since his
death I decided not to re-marry or get a child outside my matrimonial
home.When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of $10.6 (Ten
Million six hundred thousand U.S.Dollars)with one finance/security company
in EUROPE.Presently,this money is still with the Security
Company.Recently,my Doctor told me that I have six months to live as I am
terminally ill with cancer.Though what disturbs me most is my partial
paralysis. Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to a
church/mosque or better still a Christian/Moslem individual that will
utilize this money the way I am going to instruct here in. I want a
church/Mosque or individual that will use this to fund churches/Mosque,
orphanages and widows propagating the word of God and to ensure that the
house of God is maintained.They said blessed is the hand that giveth. I took
this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this money
and my husband's relatives are not Christians and I don't want my husband's
hard earned money to be mis-used by unbelievers.I don't want a situation
where this money will be used in an ungodl manner,hence the reason for
taking this bold decision. I am not afraid of death hence I know where I am
going. I know that I am going to be in the bossom of God.If you will be of
assistance,I will surely appreciate and reward you for your kindness in
rendering help to a dying woman.
Vivian Rodigruez


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