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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: "caroline norman" <mrs_caroline28@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 07 Aug 2006 13:49:06 +0000
Subject: SICK WOMAN

Attn : Dear Friend,

I am Mrs. Caroline John Norman from Holland. I am married to Dr. John Norman
of united state who worked with Chevron Texaco as oil
consultant/contractor in Africa for twenty years before he died in the year
2005.We were married for twenty-seven years without a child. He died during
one of the riot in the Niger delta region. He was held hostage and slain to
death by protesting youths of the region. Before his death we were both born
again Christian. Since his death I decided not to re-marry. When my late
husband was alive he made a numbered time (Fixed) deposited for twelve
calendar months, valued at $8m.usd (Eight Million U.S. Dollars) with account
number 0130648335800. With a financial firm in South Africa.

Meanwhile, this money is still with the bank and the management just wrote
me as the beneficiary to come forward to receive the money or rather issue a
letter of authorization to somebody to receive it on my behalf if I can not
come over. Presently, I am with my laptop in a hospital where I have been
undergoing treatment for cancer of the lungs.

I have since lost my ability to talk and my doctors have told me that I have
only a few months to live. It is my last wish to see that this money is
invested and proceed at the end of every year distributed among charity
organization. I want a person that is God fearing that will use this money
to fund churches, orphanages and widows propagating the word of God and to
ensure that the house of God is maintained. I am made to understand that
blessed is the hand that giveth. I took this decision because I know that
there are a lot of poor people suffering from different kind of disease and
nobody to come to their aid.

With God all things are possible. As soon as I receive your reply I shall
give you the contact of the financial firm. I will also issue you a letter
of authority that will prove you as the new beneficiary of this fund.

You are to help me invest this fund into real estate and stocks. You will be
entitled to 40% of every profit you make in a year. Please assure me that
you will act accordingly as I stated here in. Hoping to hearing from you
soon.

In your response to me, please include your telephone and fax number and
also your mailing address.

Reply to my email. mrs_caroline8@yahoo.com


Mrs. Caroline John Norman

_________________________________________________________________
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