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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: "DEPT OFFICE" <deptoffice41@ig.com.br>
Date: Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:41:20 +0100
Subject: DEAR FRIEND


DEAR FRIEND



I'M HAPPY TO INFORM YOU ABOUT MY SUCCESS IN GETTING THOSE FUNDS TRANSFERRED
UNDER THE COOPERATION OF A NEW PARTNER FROM CHINA. PRESENTLY I'M IN CHINA
FOR INVESTMENT PROJECTS WITH MY OWN SHARE OF THE TOTAL SUM. MEANWHILE, I
DIDN'T FORGET YOUR PAST EFFORTS AND ATTEMPTS TO ASSIST ME IN TRANSFERRING
THOSE FUNDS DESPITE THAT IT FAILED US SOME HOW.


IN APPRECIATION OF YOUR EARLIER ASSISTANCE TO ME IN RECEIVING THE FUNDS,I
HAVE DECIDED TO COMPENSATE YOU WITH THE SUM OF $1,5M IN A CHEQUE (ONE
MILLION FIVE HUNDRED USD). THIS IS FROM MY OWN SHARE. I DID THIS SIMPLY TO
SHOW YOU THAT IT IS GOOD TO DO GOOD THINGS TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE ALWAYS.


PRESENTLY, I AM IN CHINA WITH MY FAMILY NOW FOR INVESTMENT PROJECT WITH MY
OWN SHARE UNDER THE ADVICE OF MY NEW PARTNER. MEANWHILE, I DIDN'T FORGET
YOUR PAST EFFORTS AND ATTEMPTS TO ASSIST ME IN TRANSFERRING THOSE FUNDS
DESPITE YOU LATHER STARTED HAVING A BAIS MIND.
NOW CONTACT MY SECRETARY IN COTONOU BENIN WITH THE DETAILS BELOW;


NAME: MR TONY JOHNSON
EMAIL- infodept0@ig.com.br

TEL:+229-9316-4397

PLEASE DO LET ME KNOW IMMEDIATELY YOU RECEIVED AND CASH YOUR MONEY SO THAT
WE CAN SHARE THE JOY TOGETHER AFTER ALL THE SUFFERING AT THAT TIME. IN THE
MOMENT, I AM VERY BUSY HERE IN CHINA BECAUSE OF THE INVESTMENT PROJECTS,
WHICH THE NEW PARTNER AND I ARE HAVING AT HAND. SO FEEL FREE TO GET IN TOUCH
WITH MR TONY JOHNSON TO SEND THE CHEQUE TO YOU WITHOUT ANY DELAY.


BEST REGARDS,
DR JOHNSON WILLIAMS

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