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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: john Kalou <john8kalou@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 27 Sep 2008 15:21:14 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: PLEASE HELP ME


DEAR RESPECTFUL,
=A0
Permit me to inform you of my desire of going into business relationship wi=
th you. I got your name and contact from the Gratis advertentie site I pray=
ed over it and selected your contact among other contacts I got from there.=
=A0 I am JOHN KALOU (JR) the only son of late DR. JOHN KALOU.=A0 My father =
was a very wealthy=A0 Cocoa merchant in Abidjan the economic capital of Ivo=
ry coast but
was poisoned to death by his business associates on one of their outings on=
a business trip.
=A0
My Mother died when I was a baby and since then my father took me so specia=
l.=A0 Before the death of my father on JULY 2007 in a private hospital here=
in Abidjan he secretly called me on his bed side and told me that he has t=
he sum of TWELVE MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLARS USD. ($12,000 000) left in fi=
xed / suspense account in one of the prime bank here in Abidjan, that he us=
ed my name as his only son for the next of Kin in depositing of the money. =
He also explained to me that it was because of this wealth that he was pois=
oned by his business associates. He then adviced me to seek for a Foreign P=
artner in a country of my choice where I will transfer this money and use i=
t for investment purpose, I am therefore honourably=A0 seeking your assista=
nce in the following ways:
=A0
(1) To provide a bank account for the transfer of this money. (2) To serve =
as a guardian to me and the investment of this money since I am only 19year=
s. I am willing to offer you a good percentage from the total sum as compen=
sation for your effort/input after the successful transfer of this money in=
to your nominated account overseas. Furthermore, you will indicate your opt=
ion towards assisting me as I believe that this transaction would be conclu=
ded within fourteen 14 days you signify interest to assist me.
=A0
Anticipating to hear from you soon.
=A0
Best regards,
=A0
John .
=A0
TELEPHONE=A0 +22507485582=0A=0A=0A

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