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: "Michael R" <dadafemidada@msn.com>
Reply-To: michramsey1@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Sun, 18 Sep 2005 18:13:47 +0000
Subject: Good Day to you. (Rapid Response Needed)

Dear Friend,
Good day to you. I may have to trouble your sense of personal achievement
and reward for an opportunity properly taken advantage of.

I am Mr. Michael Ramsey, a representative and an attorney to Kenneth Lay,
the former chairman & CEO,Enron Corp. Industry: Energy &Natural Resources
Home. He deposited (US $21,000,000.00) with me when he was in power as the
chairman of the Corp.
I am contacting you because I want you to deal with the Finance house and
claim the money on my behalf since I have declared that the Funds belong to
my foreign business partner. You shall also be required to assist me in
investment in your country. I hope to trust you as a God fearing person who
will not sit on this money when you claim it, rather assist me properly,
shared in these percentages, 60% to me and 40% to you. When I receive your
positive response I will let you Know where the Finance house is and the
document's to lay claims to the funds, which is very important. What I need
is for you to indicate your interest that you will assist us by receiving
the money on my behalf in Europe For this, you shall be considered to be the
beneficiary to the funds.
The project in brief, is that the funds with which we intend to carry out
our proposed investments in your country, is presently in the custody of a
finance house in Europe. I do not want the government of my Country to know
about the money because they will believe I got the money from the sales of
Enron stock when my client was the Chairman &C.E.O. of Enron.
Once I have your details in full the finance house will contact you for
Release of the funds to your account As soon as payment is effected, and the
amount mentioned above is successfully transferred into your account, I
intend to use my own share in acquiring some estates abroad. For this too
you shall also be the overseas manager of all our properties and you will be
paid based on a certain percentage agreed on by both parties.
I guarantee you that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement
that will protect you from any breach of the law. Please get in touch with
me urgently.
Please, provide me the following:
1. Full Name
2. Your Telephone Number and Fax Number
3. Your Contact Address.
Thanks in advance
Get back to me directly at ( michramsey1@yahoo.co.uk )
Michael Ramsey.


Anti-fraud resources: