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: "Felix Williams" <atml015@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: atml@o2.pl
Date: Fri, 02 Dec 2005 01:07:27 +0000
Subject: How Are You ?

How Are You ?


I am Mr.Felix Williams, I am a friend to late Mr.Aziz I am also the present
fianincial controller of Eco bank , Cotonou branch,Republic of Benin. I
have an urgent and very confidential business proposition for you as a
result of what I presently have at hand.


On 25th December 2003, Mr.Aziz a Lebanese investor in Cotonou , Republic of
Benin was among the plane crash victims of Boeing 727-type, Air plane of
African Transport Union (UTA) crashed on 25th December 2003 at the Fidjrosse
beach Cotonou Republic of Benin. 110 persons died, the Beirut-bound flight
victims are mostly Lebanese nationals and few westerners. Over 40 others
still reported missing as at then, while 22 passengers survived.


Please I seek your consent to present you as Next of kin to the deceased so
that the sidetracked Account valued at 15.5 Million US Dollar (Fifteen
Million Five Hundred Thousand US Dollar) of late Mr. Aziz could be remitted
to your account as his Next of Kin, and then we can share the amount on
a mutually agreed percentage. All I require from you is your honest
co-operation and trust to enable us see this transaction through. I
guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that
will protect you from any breach of the law. To enable us discuss further
about this transaction, do contact me you kindly provide me with the
following:


1: your full name and address as you will want it to appear on the
documents.

2: your phone and fax line for ease of communication to you direct.

3: your proffesion and position.

4: your country of origin.

5: your age



I await your urgent responsel.

Regard,


Felix Williams


Anti-fraud resources: