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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: "Williams Egoson" <williams_egoson111@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: williams_egoson@yahoo.it
Date: Thu, 10 Nov 2005 18:36:21 +0000
Subject: PLEASE TREAT AS URGENT

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 the
proffesional database found in the internet when i was searching for a
reliable foreigner who will assist me invest this fund.

I am Director Mr.Egoson Williams,this mail is written to solicit your
assistance to be presented as next of kin to our Late customer.Mr Neal
Walker. He made a fixed Deposit valued at USD21.5M (Twenty One Million,Five
Hundred United States Dollars Only) with Bank here in London.
Unfortunately he lost his life aboard Egypt Air Flight 990, which crashed
into the Atlantic Ocean on October 31,1999 (View:
'http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/502503.stm) and. He left no
clear beneficiary as Next of Kin excepting some vital documents related to
the Deposit which I have in his deposit file in the bank.

The Governing Body of the bank has contacted me on this matter and I am
yet to provide the Next of Kin to lay claim to the Fund. Under a clear and
legitimate agreement with you, I shall seek your consent to be presented as
the next of Kin so that the Bank will not confiscate this fund.

For the sake of transparency on this matter, you are free to make
immediate contact with me through my mailbox for further informations
related to this matter.

Thank you very much for your anticipated acceptance while we expect your
prompt response.
Lastly, this Transaction is Subject for Verification.

Yours faithfully,

Mr.Egoson Williams


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