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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: Mr Richard David <rd172007@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <richard_david12007@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 6 Sep 2007 21:58:10 +0200
Subject: REPLY URGENT...



Dear,I need your assistance to transfer the the sum of 36,759,000.00 MILLION POUNDS(THIRTY SIX MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY NINE THOUSAND POUNDS STERLINGS) INTO YOUR ACCOUNT. My name is Mr.Richard David and I work in the international Operation Department in a Bank here in London. The fund for transfer is of clean origin. The owner of this account is a foreigner, a program leader, Until his death. The Late Prime Minister, Mr. Rafik Hariri. for more information please log on to www.hariri.info. At first I will like to assure you that this transaction is 100% risk and trouble free to both parties. I was on a routine inspection that I discovered a dormant domiciliary account with a BAL. Of (THIRTY SIX MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY NINE THOUSAND POUNDS STERLINGS) on further discreet investigation, I also discovered that the account holder has passed away (dead) leaving no beneficiary to the account. The bank will approve this money to any foreigner because the former operator of the a/c is a foreigner. I am certainly sure that nobody will come again for the claim of this money. A foreigner can only claim this money with legal claims to the account Holder, therefore I need your cooperation in this transaction. I will provide all necessary information needed in order to claim this money, Hoping in God that you will never let me down now and in future once the money enter in to your account.o.k! Only thing I need from you is your full co_operation and your full surport in this transfer, Because I am in good position to process in this transfer. I want you to reply immediately for more details.Your Sincerely,Mr.Richard
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