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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: "susansmith905 Gazeta.pl" <susansmith905@gazeta.pl>
Reply-To: susanmith9166@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2008 20:09:45 +0000
Subject: Hi Dear.


*Miss Susan Smith*
*Abidjan(cote d'ivoire)
West Africa.

*
Dearest One,

Good a thing to write you. I have a proposal for you, this however is not
mandatory nor will I in any manner compel you to honour against your will. I
am miss susan smith, 22years old and the only daughter of my late parents
Mr. and Mrs. smith koffi. My father was a highly reputable businness
magnet-(a cocoa merchant) from Abidjan cote d'ivoire* *who operated in the
capital of Ivory coast during his days. It is sad to say that he passed away
mysteriously in one of his business trips abroad on 12th.February
2003.Though his sudden death was linked or rather suspected to have been
masterminded by an uncle of mine who travelled with him at that time. But
God
knows the truth!


My mother died when I was just 4 years old, and since then my father took me
so special. Before his death on Febuary 12 2003 he called the secretary who
accompanied him to the hospital and told him that he has the sum of eleven
million,seven hundred thousand United State Dollars.(USD$11,700,000) left in
a fixed
deposit account in one of the banks in Abidjan, the capital of Ivory Coast.
He further told him that he deposited the money in his name,and finally
issued a written instruction to his lawyer whom he said is in possession of
all the documents to this fund to release the documents to me. I am just 22
years old and a university undergraduate and really don't know what to
do.Now I want an account overseas where I can transfer this funds. This is
because I have suffered a lot of set backs as a result of incessant
political crisis here in Ivory coast.The death of my father actually brought
sorrow to my life.plaese ,I am in a sincere desire of your humble assistance
in this regards.Your suggestions and ideas will be highly regarded.
Now permit me to ask these few questions:-

1. Can you honestly help me as your sister, son or brother?

2. Can I completely trust you?

3. What percentage of the total amount in question will be good for you
after the money is in your account?

Please,Consider this and get back to me as soon as
possible, God be with you.

Best regards.

Miss Susan Smith

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