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: "mrsgrace peters" <grapets1960@msn.com>
Reply-To: mrsgrpeters1960@myway.com
Date: Sun, 11 Dec 2005 12:46:37 +0000
Subject: RE: COMPLIMENTS

Dear,

With due respect trust and humility, I write to you irrespective of the fact
you do not know me,but please do consider this letter as a request from a
widow and family

in dire need of assistance. I am Mrs. Grace Peters, the window of late Mr.
Goodwill Jonathan Peters. The renowned Zimbabwe wine and cattle ranch farmer
and owner of Peters Farms in Zimbabwe.I got your contact courtesy of a
business journal from the Nigerian Information exchange in my earnest search
for a reliable and trustworthy individual or company that can assist my
family in this business.

During the war waged against the farmers in Zimbabwe by the supporters and
cohorts of President Robert Mugabe, to claim all the white/blacks owned
farmer in our country, My late husband belong to one of the classis of the
farmer targeted by the ZANU_PF armed group, because he did not support the
ideas and policies. In the cause of the revolution in the country, the
ZANU_PF armed group attacked and invaded my husband farms, burning,
destroying and eventual killing my husband and after my husband death last
two years.I managed escaped the boundaries of Zimbabwe in to the neighboring
Nigeria with my two sons because our lives were threatened and Zimbabwe was
no longer safe for us.

We escaped safely into Nigeria with my husband lifetime future of
US$25Million
(Twenty Five Million United State Dollars) cash, important documents of
property little and other valuables which we concealed and secured in two
treasure boxes and transported to Lagos,Nigeria through diplomatic means.The
consignment box treasure safely lodged and secured into the vaults of a
reputable security and brokerage firm here in Nigeria.In recognition of your
personal executive power and investment opportunities that abound in your
country.

I solicit for your assistance in moving my family’s money into your bank
account for safekeeping pending our future arrival for investment.The family
has resolved to compensate you adequately by offering a brokerage commission
of 20% of the money.If you are unable to assist please be kind to notify me
so that we can look suitable alternative.

Please accept my warm complements, as earnestly wait your response.

With warm regards,
Mrs.Grace Peters.


Anti-fraud resources: