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: "Mrs. Grace Clif" <mrsclif9@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <mrsgraceclif@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 29 Jun 2007 10:49:44 +0000
Subject: Urgent Attention.



Urgent Attention.
Your file appears on my desk two days ago Through FMF Office That you are among people approved to be paid half of their payment of USD$8 million dollars. Signed by the Vice President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, On behalf of Mr. President.I need your above information, to confirm with the one we have already here in our file, if you are the rightful owner to be paid.

Your Full Name:Your Contact Address:Your Email Address:Your Occupation:Your Phone Number:Your Age/Sex:

Thanks and God bless.

Regards,Mrs. Grace ClifSpecial Adviser to Mr. President
_________________________________________________________________
Play free games, earn tickets, get cool prizes! Join Live Search Club. 
http://club.live.com/home.aspx?icid=CLUB_wlmailtextlink

Anti-fraud resources: