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: "barr. John Wild Wild" <barr.wildjohnlaaka98330@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <barristerjohnwild02@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 5 Nov 2007 09:43:48 +0100
Subject: Hellow !!!!!!!!!!!!



Attention Please: Your Fund Release Order. Sequel to the meeting held on 13th August, 2007. I write to inform you that Nigerian Government and Members of the Senete have authorized me to contact you for your inheritance payment of Six Million Seven Hundred United State Dollars which was deposited by your late relative.

On the 4th of May, 2002 it was reported to us that my Client, his wife and their only daughter were involved in a Local Plane Crash at Kano State, enroute Abuja (The Capital City) all occupants in the Plane lost their lives, unfortunately on this same flight were other dignitaries like the Sports Minister and a host of others. The following websites could be referenced:
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/1968616.stm> The reason for this is to inherit a Contract Payment Deposits Account which the Deceased left in a Finance Firm. The Nigerian Government has given you an Identification Code Number: UL/ID300/0X10/CB: also your file has been forwarded to the Director Telex department, United States of America for onward crediting of your nominated account which you may provide for this transfer. I have copy of deposit Certificate, with this document and Code Number, the paying bank will process your payment file. Do please indicate your willingness by sending your full names, age, occupation; address and private telephone numbers to enable us commence immediately. I will inform you on the next step to follow. Regards, Barr: John Wild.
_________________________________________________________________
Connect to the next generation of MSN Messenger 
http://imagine-msn.com/messenger/launch80/default.aspx?locale=en-us&source=wlmailtagline

Anti-fraud resources: