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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: e_philips1955@hotmail.com
Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2008 19:54:51 -1200
Subject: Dear Beloved

Dear Beloved,

It is by the grace of God that I write you, having known the truth; I had no choice than to do what is lawful and just
in the sight of God for eternal life and in the sight of man for witness of God & His Mercies and glory upon my life. I
am Mrs. Elizaberth Philips, the wife of Mr. Bryan Philipsn both citizens of the United Kingdom. My husband worked with
the Chevron/Texaco in Russia for twenty years before he died in the year 2003.
My husband until his death was a very hard working man with so much love for people in need. When my late husband was
alive he deposited the sum of 12.5 Million Pounds (Twelve Million Five Hundred Thousand Pounds) in a Financial House i n
Europe (United Kingdom to be precise). The management just wrote me as the beneficiary that the account is DORMANT and
if I,the beneficiary of the funds, do not re-activate the account; the funds will be CONFISCATED or I rather issue a
letter of authorization to somebody to receive it on my behalf,because of my ill health.

Presently, I'm in a hospital in UK, where I have been undergoing treatment for esophageal cancer. I want someone, who is
God-fearing to use this money to fund churches, orphanages and widows, I await your quick response to this mail as this
is my last wish to see this funds transferred before my death. Please my beloved for further communication on how we are
going to conclude this, reach me on my private mail:
e_philips1955@hotmail.com

May God Bless you,
Mrs. Elizaberth Philips

Anti-fraud resources: