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.

 

 

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

Fraud email example:

From: Mrs Mariam <mariam@minister.com>
Reply-To: mrs_ponde@myway.com
Date: Wed, 05 Jul 2000 01:20:17 +0400
Subject: urgent pls


Dear Friend
Before I proceed, may I humbly introduce myself to your good self. My name is Mrs.Mariam Ponde, a Sierra Leonian refugee in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. My late husband was until recently, one of the personal aides to the president Ahmed Kabba of Sierra Leone.
But since after the death of my husband, my family has been subjected to various forms of humiliation ranging from freezing of my husband's foreign assets and bank accounts to other forms of public shame and ridicule.
However before his death, my husband was able to safeguard with a very good diplomatic contact in Ghana funds amounting to US$9.8m (Nine Point Eight Milion United States Dollars).The funds were originally gotten from royalties accruing to my husband as the government representative of the Western Region Gold and Diamond Mining Operations.
I have decided to contact you because I am interested in investing this funds in your country which is investment friendly.
In view of your participation, I am ready to give you a good negotiable percentage for your assistance, or better still commit the fund into viable Joint Venture Projects with you.
Be assured that you stand no risk of any kind as the funds belong to me only as contained in my late husband's will. As soon as I get your consent, we will quickly move this fund to your country and finally move my family over there as well .
If this proposal appeals to you, kindly give me your urgent response.
Thanks in anticipation of your kind cooperation
Best Regards,
James for Mother
Mrs Mariam Ponde

Anti-fraud resources: