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: Rev Mrs Georgina Etefe <georginaetefe@excite.com>
Date: Thu, 09 Aug 2007 01:41:13 +0200
Subject: HONEST RESPONSE NEEDED


Dear Friend,

I guess that you may be surprise to receive this proposal from someone
you have not met before, but kindly consider it as one thing that you
can do to help the Less privileged in your country.

I am Rev. Mrs. Georgina Etefe, my husband died in the year 2002 after a

brief illness that lasted for only four days. Before his death, we were

both born again Christians and we lived a happy life.

Since his death, I have decided not to re-mary to another man as I was
diagnosed with Esophageal cancer, which has defiled all forms of
medical treatment.
Though, my husband and I were very rich couple when he was alive. He
deposited the sum of $12M (Twelve Million U.S. Dollars) in one
Guarantee Trust Banksin
Nigeria.
Presently, the money is still with the Trust Bank and I have no
strength
to engage myself in active business or traveling to overseas to
continue
with my late husband's chain of business as my sickness is getting
worst every day.
The one that disturbs me most is that I also surfer from stroke and
recently, my Doctor told my family members that I may not live up to
eight months from now because of the excess lost of blood and weight
that I have surfered in the cause of flushing the various from my
system. I am no living on a counted days and waiting for the last
breath to come.

Now that my health has deteriorated so badly, I have decided to donate
the total sum of $12m to any charitable organization or individuals
that will use the fund for orphanages, widows,propagating the Gospel of

God and to endeavor that the less privileged are properly assisted with

the money.
I cannot do this myself, I once asked members of my family to close one

of my husband's accounts and distribute the money, to charity
organization in
Bulgaria and Pakistan but they refused and kept the
money to themselves.
For that reason, I do not wish to entrust the money in their care
anymore, as they seem to be too greedy and selfish.
Before I die, I want to be sure that the fund has been released to some

one who is honest and ready to assist the orphans, the widows, the
disabled and the less privileged overseas.

I would therefore be glad if you will respond to this mail as soon as
possible so that I willgive you a letter of Authorization that will
enable you receive the funds from the bank.
I would advise you to contact me through email because my late
husband's
relatives are always around me in the hospital and I don't want them to

know about this decision.
If you are ready to inherit the fund and honestly use it to
rehabilitate the less privileged in your country, please send me

the following information:
1: YOUR NAME: ========
2: YOUR ADDRESS:======
3: YOUR PHONE NO: =====
4: YOUR FAX NO:=======
5: YOUR OCCUPATION: ====

May God bless you for your kindness.
Yours in Christ
Rev. Mrs. Georgina Etefe

N.B: If you are interested to assist, Please send your reply
immediately.To:
georginaetefe@excite.com

Anti-fraud resources: