joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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: "Bill Johnson" <billjohnsonron@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 3 Sep 2008 21:59:56 +0100
Subject: Personal Letter


*Dear Personal,*

* *

*I Am Master. Bill Johnson, the son of Late Mr. Wange Johnson, the chief
security officer to the former president of Somalia. At Present I am here in
Cotonou, Republic of Benin. I got your contact through inter-net. In the
course of the war in my country, my father was arrested and killed by the
rebel/opposition leader earlier last year, due to his involvement in the
Government of the former president of the country. *

*This situation has led me in a very difficult situation here now. Which
made me to contact you for an assistance in helping me to transfer out some
huge amount of money which my father have safe and kept in a financial
Security company, here in Republic of Benin.

*

*The amount is THIRTY TWO MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLARS (US$32,000,000.) this
was the money given to him to buy ammunition before he was arrested and
killed by the opposition party. And the Government is not aware of this
money in our custody here now. I would have invited you to Somalia to see
things yourself, but the situation here will not be suitable for you to
come. Now I needed your assistance to send the whole of this money out of
here into your Private or company account over there for investment.*

* *

* I would have operated with this money here but due to the situation and my
father's involvement in the country's political crisis here; I can not be
allowed to use this fund here. Because we are under close monitor here.
Where your assistance could be possible, I will offer you 40% of the total
sum and 10% will be for expenses all your expenses will be taken care of
immediately after the transaction. 60% goes for me towards my investments.

*

*Please, your prompt reply through my email: www.billjohnson@yahoo.fr*

* *

*Will be highly appreciated to enable me conclude our internal arrangements
here.

*

*Thanks and God bless you as you offer to assist *

* *

*BEST REGARDS,

*

*From. Bill Johnson

*

* *

Anti-fraud resources: