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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

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

Fraud email example:

From: "martha keita" <marthakeita5@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: marthakeita@walla.com
Date: Sat, 01 Jul 2006 11:29:18 +0100
Subject: Help me and my son

FROM MRS. MARTHA KEITA, DADANI REFUGEE CAMP
C/O ROCK OF AGES EVANGELICAL MINISTRY
ABIDJAN, COTE D'VOIRE

Dear respectful One,

With the best compliments of the year, I wish to solicit your help in
migrating to your country and investing my funds.I am a Sierra Leonean
National and the wife of late Dr Silas Keita. Until his death, my husband
was the General overseer of the Gold and Diamond Mining Corporation in
Kanema Sierra Leone. On April 6 2000 the military forces loyal to the
Government of Ahmed Tijan Kabbah invaded the Diamond and Gold mine and
assassinated my husband, mistaking him for his brother Umar Keita who is the
deputy to the leader of the revolutionary United Front (RUF ) Foday Sankoh.

When the news reached me,I hurriedly gathered some valuables in our family
villa and escaped for my dear life in the company of my only son Simon.Among
the valuables was a file that contained details of a Deposit my husband made
in a deposit bank In Europe.He deposited US$23.5M(Twenty-three million Five
Hundred Thousand U.S Dollars) in the name of our son Simon.This was the
money he made from the sale of Gold and diamonds during his time as the
General overseer.


Now that we are in Cote d'voire and verified the transaction, we need your
assistance to recieve this funds on our behalf for investment in your
country as we cannot invest here due to its nearness to our country and the
insecurity still going on there,We ask you to scout for a viable and
lucrative business, so that we can invest wisely.

We have it in mind to give you 25% of the total sum (usd$23.5 million US
Dollars),and 20% share annually in any investment we will embark upon if you
assist us. This fortune of ours we have revealed to you should remain
Confidential as it only you who we have told about it.Kindly indicate your
interest and willingness to assist us on receipt of this message for for us
to clarify you on how to proceed. Note that this transaction is risk free.

May the shelter and care of God be upon you as you assist us.Remain blessed.


Yours Sincerely,

MRS MARTHA AND SIMON KEITA

_________________________________________________________________
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