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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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Some comments about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Michael B Tony" <mikeb_gh7@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Date: Tue, 28 Mar 2006 15:49:51 -0800
Subject: BUSINESS ASSISTANCE NEEDED

Dear trusted one
Best compliments.
It's my pleasure to contact you for a business venture which I and my Sister intend to establish in your country.
Though we have not met before but I strongly believe we now have to risk confiding in someone to succeed from our present situation and for the best of our future.
We are the children of late Chief Dennis Tony. Northern part of Federal republic of Sierra Leone.
Due to the series of continious war in our country for multiple years ago, there is this huge amount of twenty million Five Hundred Thousand, U.S dollars($20,500,000.00) which our late father kept for us in a security storage house in Holland-Amsterdam called Alpha Lynex BV Financial And Security Company before he was assasinated by some unknown enemies.
All legal documents covering this deposits are with our family lawyer who resides here in Ghana and also a Ghanaina who has good relations here in Ghana.As soon as i hear from you once again,i will give you his contact details for you to get intouch with him so that he can give you the documents and also the contact details of the security company officials in AMsterdam for you to contact them.
Now I and my sister have decided to invest these money in your country or anywhere safe enough outside Africa for security and political reasons.
We urge that you help us to transfer this fund to your country for investment purposes on the followings below:
1). Telecommunication
2). Automobile manufacturing
3). Five star hotel
If you can be of an assistance to us, we will be pleased to offer to you 20% Of the total fund for your kind and humane assistance.
We await your soonest response.
Our warmest regards to your entire family.
Thank you and God bless you.
Sincerely,
Michael B Tony
My contact address is +233-243-211836


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