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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: shinglil_7@mchsi.com (mr_shingli0002@yahoo.com.tw)
Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:54:07 +0000
Subject: BUSINESS TRANSACTION!!!

I am Shing Li,Bank Manager of bank of Overseas,Taiwan.
A British Oil contractor with the Chinese Solid Minerals Corporation,
Mr.Courtney Steven made a numbered (Fixed) Deposit of $30,000,000.00
for twelve calendar months and not too long Mr.Courtney Steven died.
We have launched an investigation into possible surviving next of kin
to claim his estate but in his bio-data form, he listed no next of kin.
Please reply to my private email as i hope to furnish you with more
details on how we can transfer the fund.
Email: mr_shingli0002@yahoo.com.tw
Yours Sincerely,
Mr. Shing Li.

Anti-fraud resources: