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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: " Bakari" <drbenjaminb@wanadoo.es>
Date: Tue, 28 Mar 2006 18:58:17 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: REPLY URGENT


FROM DR BENJAMIN BAKARI.
TELL: 229 97293197.

GOOD DAY,

I AM THE BILL AND EXCHANGE OF CONTINENTAL BANK BENIN IN WEST AFRICA.

I AM WRITING, FOLLOWING AN OPPORTUNITY IN MY OFFICE THAT WILL BE OF IMMENSA BENEFIT TO BOTH OF US.

IN MY DEPARTMENT WE DISCOVERED AN ABANDONED SUM OF (TEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND BRISTISH POUNDS STERLING) IN AN ACCOUNT THAT BELONGS TO ONE OF OUR FOREIGN CUSTOMERS LATE MR.MORRIS VERA OF AMERICA WHO UNFORTUNATELY LOST HIS LIFE IN THE PLANE CRASH WHICH CRASHED ON JANUARY 31ST 2000,INCLUDING HIS WIFE AND ONLY CHILD (DAUGHTER).

SINCE WE GOT THE INFORMATION ABOUT HIS DEATH, WE HAVE BEEN EXPECTING HIS NEXT OF KIN OR RELATIVES TO COME OVER AND CLAIM HIS MONEY BECAUSE WE CANNOT RELEASE IT UNLESS SOMEBODY APPLIES FOR IT AS NEXT OF KIN OR RELATIONS TO THE DECEASED AS INDICATED IN OUR ALLIED AND BANKING GUIDELINES

Anti-fraud resources: