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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: "Mrs. Jane Alex" <j.alex21956@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 2009 18:49:04 +0100
Subject: Re: Your Contact Needed


Dear Friend,

Good day and how are you? I hope you are great. I know you are surprise to
see my mail. I am sorry for intruding. The reason I contacted you is because
I want to invest in your venture or country.

Well, my name is Mrs. Jane A. Jeremy (Nee Jane Alex) from England. I live in
Limbe Cameroon where my husband died. I have been planning to leave Limbe
back to London but that is after I must have invested into a project which I
want to aid me.
You may be wondering why and how I got you I chose you, I saw your profile
over the internet and I decided to contact you first by email.

This I wanted to do without the notice of my husband people because they
wanted to use me, get the money which is in my signatory and abandon me.

I have talked with my lawyer who is English and live in Douala, to aid me on
the process. He is working as International Logistic adviser with Cameroon
Ministry of Justice. The transaction should be between you and him and any
thing I should sign will be done by me secretly. After the success of the
transfer, I will come down to your country and meet you personally and show
my profound gratitude.

You can contact my lawyer for he reserve the right to give you every detail:
Name: Fred Smith
Email. fredsmithchamberslimbe@gmail.com

Further more ,you should remove 10% ( After the transfer) for the expenses
you may incur on trying to get the money transfer to you and your assistance
if you will love to assist.

NB: I will appreciate your total commitment and confidentiality in this
matter until the task is accomplished. I don't want anything that will
jeopardize my wish, due to the fact that I do not want my husband relatives
or family members standing in the way of my last wish.

Merci,

Mrs. Jane A. Jeremy

Anti-fraud resources: