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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 by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: momoh <kmomoh@di-ve.com>
Date: Tue, 18 Apr 2006 21:13:20 +0200
Subject: CONFIDENTIAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Dear Friend,
First I must solicit your strictest confidence in this
transaction and I pray that my decision to contact you
will be given genuine approval considering the facts
you and I just meet in the net but with your attention
you sound so good to me, I wish to use this
opportunity to introduce myself to you. I am Kelvin Momoh
from Sierra-Leone.
I write to know my desires to invest in your country.
I am the first son of William A. Momoh, who was the
former Minister Of Mines and Energy. My father had a
bullet wounds by the rebels on his way traveling to
the Capital city Freetown along with my sister. My
sister died on the spot while U.N Peace keeping force
rescued my father, he later died after eleven months.
Before his death he told to me about the box
containing $18 million U.S Dollars to look after my
self and my Mother and shouldnt go to Sierra-Leone
for my safety, why my father deposit the fund in the
security company is for safety of the fund,
Presently, my mother and I are in Europe to
notify the security company for the claims for the
FUND, and we are presently in the refugee camp.
Therefore I want you to help us to claim this deposit
and as well lecture me on how best we can
invest this money in your country.
My father told me it is dangerous to invest this money
in Africa to avoid suspicious, and due to with the
economic and political instability facing Africa
countries that is why I want to us invest the money still in abroad.
For your foreign assistance I and my mother have
agreed to offer 15% of the total amount of the money.
We have all the vital documents covering the deposit
fund and the ownership which I can send to you through
fax on request.
NOTE: I have never disclosed this to any person apart
from you, so you have to keep this matter very
confidential. Send me your full contact address, Private phone and fax
numbers for more information.
Reach me on my private Email: mokelvin70@oink.co.uk
Best Regards,
Kelvin Momoh

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