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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: "Fred Maria" <mariafred12@mailbox.hu>
Reply-To: mrsmariafred3@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 25 May 2008 18:37:48 +0100
Subject: HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY...FROM MRS. MARIA FRED.


>From Mrs. Maria A. Fred

CAN I TRUST YOU TO ASSIST ME.?

Attn:

I am the above named person from America but a Citizen of Ireland in United
kingdom, now under going medical treatment in London,England. I am married
to Mr. Arman Fred who own Fred International Fisheries under the United
State High Commission in U.K for over a decade before he died on 5th of
January 2008. We were married for fifteen years. He died after a brief
illness that lasted for three weeks. Before his death he made a vow to
establish his Fishing Company over the country for the down trodden and the
less privileged in the Asia society. Since his death I decided not to
re-marry or get a child outside my matrimonial home due to our
tradition.When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of
$11Million(Eleven Million United State Dollar) in a Vault with a Natwest
Bank In U.K,presently this money is still there.

But i am undergoing treatment in London,England due to Heart Cancer and the
Company has been close and sold due to lack of
management last Month. Recently, my Doctor told me that I would not last for
the next 26 days due to cancer problem. Though
what disturbs me most is my stroke. Having known my condition I decided to
contact you, who will utilize this money and
assist me. As soon as I receive your reply through my private E-mail Address
stating the below information, I shall give you
the contact of the Paying Bank. I want you to always pray for me. My
happiness is that I lived a life worthy of emulation.

Any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing for an individual for
this same purpose. Please assure me that you will
act according to my specification herein.

I would be glad if you could send the following informations;
(1) Full Names, (2) Residential Address,(3)Phone number,(4)Occupation(5)Age
and(6) country and also your Passport I.D or
International I.D

And send the information to my Private Email: mrsmariafred3@gmail.com,and
note that as soon as i receive your email i will
send you the Deposit Certificate and Death Certificate of my Late Husband
for your record And also file an application to the
bank with your informations for the process of this transaction. Note that
this transaction is 100% Legal and Real.

Thank you and Hope to hear from you.

Yours sincerely,
Mrs. Maria A. Fred

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