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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: mary cooper <mcooper001_1969@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2007 06:48:20 -0800 (PST)
Subject: MARY



My Dear,
I am MRS Mary Cooper, Head of Files/Records Department in the African Development Bank, Cotonou, Benin Republic in West Africa.
Going through the files and records in my department I observed an abandoned sum of 35 Million (Thirty five million United States Dollars) belonging to a German business magnate and property consultant, Late Andreas Schranner. The late Mr Schranner died in a plane crash on Monday, 31st July, 2000 alongside his family members. The BBC website:
Refers:http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm
I also observed that since his sudden death the bank has made frantic efforts to locate his relations, but
all attempts failed. To avoid the board of directors taking advantage of the funds, my collegues and I
conceived the idea of contacting you, based on the good recommendation given to me by a friend who works with the chamber of commerce and industries here. We need your unflinching support and cooperation to have the funds transferred to your nominated bank account.
The money will be shared on a ratio of 20% to you and the rest for my colleagues and I.Having done a thorough feasibility study on how to perfect the transfer of the funds to your bank account, your role shall be to send an application for claim of the funds to the bank as a next of kin or business partner to the late Andreas Schranner. I also would require your contact address, telephone and fax numbers for easy communication. Please, rest assured that the business is 100% risk free.
I look forward to receiving your urgent response.
TELEPHONE: 00229 97 721 813
Email:marycooper112@myway.com
Best wishes,
Mrs Mary Cooper


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