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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: "Mrs. Annabel George." <annageorge@mixmail.com>
Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2005 05:23:19 +1000
Subject: Attention: Your Concern


My Dear Friend,

This communication to you is strictly confidential, with due respect. Sorry at this perceived confusion or stress you may have receiving this letter from me, since we have not known ourselves or met previously. Despite that, I am constrained to write you this letter because of the urgency of it. By way of self introduction

I am Mrs. Annabel George, wife to the late Nigerian former Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Felix George who was killed during the Ogoni Crisis some years back. I am contacting you with the hope that you will be of great assistance to me, I currently have within my reach the sum of $9 million U.S dollars cash which I intend to use for investment purposes outside Nigeria.

This money came as a result of a payback contract deal between my husband and a Russian firm in our country's multi-billion dollar Ajaokuta steel plant. The Russian partners returned my husbands share being the above sum after his death. Presently, the new civilian Government has intensified their probe into my husband’s financial resources which has led to the freezing of all our accounts, local and foreign, the revoking of all our business licences. In view of this I acted very fast to withdraw this money from one of our finance houses before it was closed down. I have deposited the money in a security company with the help of very loyal officials of my late husband. No record is known about this fund by the government because there is no documentation showing that we received such funds. The consignment containing this fund was kept on an "OPEN BENEFICIARY MANDATE" with the Security Company to avoid detection, seizure or diversion.

Due to the current situation in the country and government attitude to my family, I cannot make use of this money within, thus I seek your help in transferring this funds out of the sub-African region. Bearing in mind that you may assist me, l have decided to part with 20% of the total sum.

Please kindly reply through this email address: annageorge@mixmail.com with your letter of acceptance and your willingness in assisting me to receive the fund, also include your Physical Address, personal telephone and fax numbers.

Your URGENT response is needed.

Regards,

Mrs. Annabel George.

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