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: "GEORGE EDWARD" <georgeedward06@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: georgeedward4@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 22 Aug 2006 20:38:39 +0100
Subject: Dear Besseling ,

Dear Besseling,
 
I know this letter will come to you by surprise as we have never met before but I want you to know that any decision you take will go a long way to determine the future of both of us. My name is George Edward; a personal attorney of late Mr Abram Besseling, who deposited the sum of $20.5Million with a security company here in Cotonou which he intended to use for the purchase of diamond in 1999 and since 2000 he has not show up again and nobody came or ask for it again, not knowing that he died on 11th September .2001 at the world trade centre with his family as they went for shopping.
 
After going through some old files in the records, I discovered that if I do not contact a foreigner and remove this (money) out urgently from the security company, it would be forfeited to our new Government. No other person knows about this consignment the deposit has no beneficiary.
 
I am only seeking for your assistance to stand as the beneficiary of the consignment because you are a foreigner and this money cannot be approved to a local individual or company here, but can only be approve to you because you have the same surname as my late client. I want you to know that this is a transaction without a risk.
 
Please reply urgently with your address and phone number to enable me file an application on your name in the security company for urgent release of the funds to you. I am ready to go with you 50.50 share. You can call me anytime on: +229 93708393
Truly Yours,
Barrister
George Edward


Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! MSN Messenger Download today it's FREE!

Anti-fraud resources: