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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: carolinemba@zipmail.com.br
Date: Wed, 27 Sep 2006 17:47:29 +0200
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?I=20CRAVE=20YOUR=20INDULGENCE=21=21=21?=

Dear Friend,

I know you will see my letter to you as an embarrassment considering the
fact that we do not Know ourselves.

Well,following the sudden death of my husband. I have been thrown into a
state of utter confusion, frustration and hopelessness by my late husband's
family members, I have been subjected to physical and psychological torture
by them.

My late husband intended to establish a business Abroad with the sum of
US$4,900,000.00 but unfortunately he died before this proposed venture.

Following his death, his family members insisted that I am not
entitled to his property (Assets and money) since I am a woman and my offspring's
are all girls, as I do not have a male child for my husband Well, according
to some barbaric traditional laws here in (Africa) which doesn't permit
a woman to inherit a man's property, as they are expected by tradition to
take over the management of his business and other properties including
myself who automatically becomes a wife to one of his immediate brothers.

Unfortunately to these wicked family members, do not know that my late husband
deposited money with a Finance House unknown to his family member. I am
the only one aware of this money, so I have discussed this matter with our
family lawyer that I want this money personally so that I will be able to
take care of my children educational needs.

According to our family lawyer, the best way to secure this money is to
transfer this money to a bank account outside my country For safe-keeping,
later I can then use it for business establishment.
I therefore ask for your sincere assistant to facilitate the remittance
of this fund from this Finance House.

However, I have decided to give you (25%) of this fund as a reward for your
sincere assistance, while 75% will be for me and my family.

As soon as I get your positive response, I shall provide you with all the
necessary detail for this transfer.

I am seriously considering to settle down abroad in a friendly
atmosphere like yours as soon as this fund get into your account so that
I and my family can start all over again if only you wish, but if it is
impossible, just help me in diverting this fund into your account.

Please honesty is the watch word in this transaction. I will require yourtelephone
and fax numbers so that we can commence communication immediately.

I will greatly appreciate if you accept my proposal in good faith.

Please i can only receive your reply through my direct
e-mail:carolinemba@indiatimes.com

Best Regards.
Mrs. Caroline Mbadiwe
Direct E-mail:carolinemba@indiatimes.com




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