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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Ramatu Issa" <ramatu_issa@latinmail.com>
Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2008 14:24:35 +0100 (CET)
Subject: DEAREST ONE,


DEAREST ONE,

I AM RAMATU ISSA, 21YEARS OLD AND THE ONLY DAUGHTER OF MY LATE PARENT=
S MR AND MRS.ISSA. MY FATHER WAS A HIGHLY REPUTABLE BUSNNESS MAGNET-=
(A COCOA MERCHANT )WHO OPERATED IN ABIDJAN THE CAPITAL OF IVORY COAST=
DURING HIS DAYS.

IT IS SAD TO SAY THAT HE PASSED AWAY MYSTERIOUSLY IN FRANCE DURING ONE =
OF HIS BUSINESS TRIPS ABROAD ON 12TH.FEBUARY 2006.THOUGH HIS SUDDEN DEA=
TH WAS LINKED OR RATHER SUSPECTED TO HAVE BEEN PLANNED BY AN UNCLE OF =
HIS WHO TRAVELLED WITH HIM AT THAT TIME. BUT GOD KNOWS THE TRUTH!

MY MOTHER DIED WHEN I WAS JUST 14 YEARS OLD, AND SINCE THEN MY FATHER T=
OOK ME SO SPECIAL. BEFORE HIS DEATH ON FEBUARY 12 2006 HE TOLD ME THAT =
HE HAS THE SUM OF EIGHTEEN MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLARS.(USD$18 000 000=
) LEFT IN A SECURITY COMPANY IN A METTALIC TRUNK BOX, BUT THE SECURITY =
COMPANY DIDN'T KNOW THE CONTENT BECAUSE IT WAS REGISTERED AS FAMILY VAL=
UABLES FOR SECURITY REASONS. HE ALSO HAND OVER THE DOCUMENTS TO ME.

I AM JUST 21YEARS OLD AND A UNIVERSITY UNDERGRADUATE AND REALLY DON'T K=
NOW WHAT TO DO. NOW I WANT YOU TO ASSIST ME RELEASE THE BOX FROM THE CU=
STODY OF THE SECURITY COMAPNY. THIS IS BECAUSE I HAVE SUFFERED A LOT OF=
SET BACKS AS A RESULT OF UNNECCESSARY POLITICAL CRISIS HERE IN IVORY =
COAST AND THE DEATH OF MY FATHER ACTUALLY BROUGHT SORROW TO MY LIFE.

I AM IN A SINCERE NEED OF YOUR HUMBLE ASSISTANCE IN THIS REGARDS. YOUR =
SUGGESTIONS AND IDEAS WILL BE HIGHLY REGARDED. NOW PERMIT ME TO ASK YOU=
THESE FEW QUESTIONS:-=20
1. CAN YOU HONESTLY HELP ME ?=20
2. CAN I COMPLETELY TRUST YOU?=20
3. WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT IN QUESTION WILL BE GOOD FOR YOU=
?=20
PLEASE,CONSIDER THIS AND GET BACK TO ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.=20
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
MY SINCERE REGARDS,
RAMATU ISSA.

PLS REPLY ME TO MY PRIVATE MAIL BOX AT RAMATU_ISSA1@YAHOO.COM SO TH=
AT I CAN GIVE YOU MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE DEPOSIT WITH THE COMPANY.
THANKS AGAIN WITH LOVE,



La carrera hacia la Casa Blanca, a un click de distancia http://www.sta=
rmedia.com/noticias/especiales/gobiernousa.html

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