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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: nelly Williams <nelly_williams44@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 30 May 2008 04:04:31 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: CONFIDENTIAL ASSISTANCE


FROM&nbsp; MRS NELLY WILLIAMS
REFUGEE CAMP KARA
TOGO, WEST AFRICA.

DEAR ,
&nbsp;
MY NAME IS NELLY WILLIAMS. NATIONALITY OF SIERRA LEONE. I AM 45 YEARS OLD,A WIDOW,I LOST MY HUSBAND YEARS BACK,DURING THE POLITICAL CRISIS IN MY COUNTRY. MY LATE HUSBAND WAS ONE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNDER TIJAN KABBAH GOVERNMENT.
&nbsp;
BEFORE HIS UNTIMELY DEATH HE DEPOSITED SOME MONEY&nbsp;&nbsp; WITH&nbsp; HIS PARTNER HERE IN TOGO BECAUSE HE USED TO HIDE OUT HERE IN TOGO WHEN THERE IS PROBLEM IN SIERRA LEONE THEN. MY HUSBAND DIVERTED THIS MONEY AND DEPOSITED IT WITH A SECURITY COMPANY IN THIS COUNTRY, THE NAME OF THE COMPANY IS(CRYSTAL&nbsp; SECURITY COMPANY).WHEN HE WAS ALIVE.
&nbsp;
ALL THE INFORMATION WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU WHEN I HEAR FROM YOU AS ALL THE RELEVANT DOCUMENTS REGARDING TO&nbsp;&nbsp; THIS FUND IS INTACT WITH ME AS I AM THE ONLY BENEFICIARY TO THIS FUND AND MY MOTHER IS THE ONE WHO ADVICED ME TO LOOK FOR A FOREIGNER THAT IS TRUSTED TO ASSIST US IN TRANSFERRING THIS FUND TO HIS/HER ACCOUNT AS WE ARE NOW AFRIAD OF AFRICANS.
&nbsp;
THIS MONEY TOTALING SUM OF USD 15.7,000,000.00 NOW WE ARE SEEKING FOR A TRUSTED PERSON WHO WILL RECEIVE THIS MONEY INTO HIS/HER ACCOUNT FOR ONWARD INVESTMENT.&nbsp; HOWEVER, WHAT WE NEEDED FROM YOU IS YOUR UTMOST TRUST AND SINCERITY TO ASSIST US IN TRANSFERRING THE SUM TO YOUR ACCOUNT SINCE WE ARE INEXPERIENCED IN THE WORLD OF BUSINESS, THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE ARE ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
&nbsp;
WE REALLY NEED TO MOVE THE FUND OUT OF THIS COUNTRY TO
YOUR COUNTRY. I AND MY MOTHER AGREED TO GIVE YOU 30% OF THE TOTAL SUM FOR YOUR KIND ASSISTANCE. THE WORLD IS FULL OF BAD PEOPLE PLEASE CAN YOU PROVE YOUR GENUINTY TO US FOR US TO HAVE YOU AS A PARTNER.IT IS MY INHERITANCE AND ONLY HOPE FOR SURVIVAL.SHOW YOUR INTEREST AND WE SHALL PROCEED ON THE NEXT STEP OF ACTION.&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
WE WOULD APPRECIATE IT MOST IF YOU WILL BE ABLE TO COME DOWN HERE IN PERSON FOR US TO KNOW EACH OTHER BETTER,THEREAFTER WE SHALL PROCEED TOGETHER TO THE SECURITY COMPANY WITH ALL THE VITAL DOCUMENTS FOR THE REALESE OF THE FUND AND THE ONWARD TRANSFER OF THE FUND TO YOUR NOMINATED BANK ACCOUNT IN YOUR COUNTRY.

BUT WHEREBY YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO COME DOWN HERE IN PERSON BUT WILLING TO ASSIST US WE SHALL THEN FORWARD TO YOU THE CONTACT OF THE SECURITY COMPANY FOR YOU TO APPLY ON OUR BEHALF FOR THE REALESE OF THE FUND.
&nbsp;
WHEREBY YOU DID NOT AGREE WITH THE SHARING RATION PLEASE INDICATE AS YOU RESPONSE TO THIS MAIL SO THAT WE CAN RENEGOTIATE.
REGARDS.

MRS NELLY WILLIAMS AND MOTHER




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