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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.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs Ameen Ahmed" <mrsameenahmed@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 13 Oct 2005 11:12:52 +0000
Subject: Greetings to you/ Reply

Greetings,

My name is Mrs. Ameena Ahmed, widow to late Mr. Hassan Ahmed former owner of
Petroleum and Gas Company, here in Kuwait, I am 68years old, Suffering from
long time cancer of the breast, From all indications my condition is really
Deteriorating, and it's quite obvious that I Won't live more than 3 months
according to my Doctors, this is because the cancer stage has gotten to a
very bad stage, I don't want your pity, but i need your trust.

My late husband died early last year from heart attack, and during the
period of our marriage we Couldn't produce any child, my late husband was
very wealthy, and after his death, I inherited all his business and wealth,
The doctor has advised me that I will not live for more than 3 months, so I
have now decided to spread all my wealth, to contribute mainly to the
development of charity in Africa, America, Asia and Europe, am sorry if you
are embarrassed by my mail, i found your e-mail address in the web
directory, and i have decided to contact you, but if for any reason you find
this mail offensive, you can ignore it and please accept my apology. Before
my late husband died he was a major oil tycoon, in Kuwait and deposited the
sum of 12 million dollars (Twelve million dollars) in a company in Europe
some years ago, thats all i have left now, I need you to collect this funds
and distribute it yourself to charity, so that when i die my soul can rest
in peace, the funds will be entirely in hands and management, i hope God
gives you the wisdom to touch many lives, that is my main concern.

Please 20% of this money will be for your time and effort, while 80% goes to
charity. As soon as I hear from you, the contact of the finance company
where the fund is will be given to you, ok?

With God all things are possible. As soon as I receive your reply I shall
inform the Finance company in Europe that you are the beneficiary of the
said amount you will need to go and claim this fund in Europe. I will also
issue you an authority letter that will prove you the
present beneficiary of this fund. I want you and the organization to always
pray for me because the lord is my shepherd. My happiness is that I lived a
life of a worthy Christian.

Whoever that wants to serve the Lord must serve him in spirit and truth.
Please always be prayerful all through your life. Any delay in your reply
will give me room in sourcing another person for this same purpose. Please
assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated herein.

I wait to hear from you. Through this email address mrsameenahmed@o2.pl for
confidentiality.

Thanks for your concern. God bless you.
Mrs. Ameena Ahmed.


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