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: Miss Mercy <mssmercy_3@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 22 Jun 2007 20:22:07 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Waiting For Your Reply..


Good Day Dearest One,
I have the feeling that this piece of mail will reach you in a perfect state of mind and in a better healthy codition. While searching,i came accross your contact address and decided to contact you,to write you because I have no other alternative. Since after the death of my father in the hands of the rebels I have been in a very big difficulty of how to safeguard the money that my father left for me before his death because, the money is a huge amount 7.5 million us dollars presently in the Finance House. I am afraid I dont know how and where to start about it.
Please if you can help me try to reply me urgently as i will explain more to you and we can discuss fully and God will always bless you for your help which I know you shall never regret as I am going to take you as my caretaker. I am Waiting eagerly to hear from you.
Regards
Miss Mercy..

---------------------------------
Ready for the edge of your seat? Check out tonight's top picks on Yahoo! TV.

Anti-fraud resources: