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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: "sarah mont" <sarah_mont_139@msn.com>
Reply-To: sarahmontgomery_10@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Sun, 11 Dec 2005 04:42:23 +0000
Subject: Mrs.Sarah Montgomery

Goodday,
This business proposal to you is strictly confidential, with due respect.
Sorry at this perceived confusion or stress you may have receivingthis
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. Sarah Montgomery, the wife of late
H.B MONTGOMERY formal director general in charge of the National
sales of diamonds(DIAMOND RESERVE) Who died in the Sierra Leone
civildisturbance [War]. My three daughters , my step son and I are trapped
in obnoxious custom and traditional norms.We have suffered maltreatment
and untold hardship in the hands of my late husband's family, simply
because I did not bear a male child [heir apparent] for my late husband. By
tradition, all that my late husband had, [wealth] belongs to his
brothers/family. And myself is to be remarried by his immediate younger
brother which I vehemently refused. They have takenall that I suffered with
my husband to acquire including treasures, houses and his bank
particularseized by them. I wanted to escape to the United Stateof America
[USA} with my children on exile, but againthey conspired and stole my
international passport and other traveling document to further frustrate me.
Thank God, two weeks ago, my late husband lawyer received Key Text
Code [KTC} from a Security & Finance Company abroad, that my late
husband deposited of U.S $15.2 Million [fifteen Million Two Hundred
Thousand United States Dollars] cash, with this company. It has therefore,
become very necessary and urgent to contact someone, a foreigner like you
to help me receive/secure these consingnment overseas after the
consignment has been claim from the secuirity you can shall assist me to
place the funds in a reliable bank Account (presumably an empty Bank
Account, if available) and to help invest it on our behalf as well, while we
find a way of getting out to meet with you in your country.These
consignment are kept on an "OPEN BENEFICIARY MANDATE"with
the Security Company to avoid detection, seizure or diversion. my late
husband attorney have had several telephone discussions with the Assistant
Director of the security company, who has express willingness to help me
on meeting the company's demands. This is why I have contacted you to
help save my children and I, receive these consignment on our behalf. But,
you would need to give me sufficient assurance that if you help me, you
wouldnot divert the funds. My children and I have resolvedto give you 20%
of the total sum. This is all mychildren and I have got to live on.Please, I
have reposed my confidence in you and hopeyou will not disappoint me. I
look forward to yoururgent response, including your private phone /
mobileNo and also your fax no for easier
communication.

Stay blessed.
Mrs.Sarah Montgomery


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