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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: "Idris" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <replyto.s.idris@googlemail.com>
Date: Thu, 6 Aug 2009 19:28:51 +0700
Subject: PLEASE REPLY NOW

ATTENTION:THE DIRECTOR/CEO.

SIR/MADAM,
MY NAME IS SULEMAN W.IDRIS,A CITIZEN OF UNITED KINGDOM,RESIDING IN LONDON
U.K.
I AM AN ATTORNEY BY PROFFESSION.

I HAVE THIS FUND WORTH THE TONE OF $6.8M[SIX MILLION,EIGHT HUNDRED
THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLAR].THIS FUND HAVE BEEN IN THE SECURITY COMPANY
HERE IN LONDON FOR 3 YEARS NOW.I HAVE TRIED TO SHIFT IT TO ASIA AS I
WANT TO INVEST IN SOUTH EAST ASIA OR ANY OTHER PART OF ASIA WITH THIS FUND
WITH THE HELP OF A PARTNER FROM ASIA.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY,THE PERSON[MY PARTNER] THAT IS SUPPOSED TO STAND AS THE
BENEFICIARY/CLAIMER OF THE MENTIONED FUND WITH MY APPROVAL CAME UP WITH
GREED AS WE AGREED INTIALLY THAT I WILL COMPENSATE HIM WITH 15% AND NOW HE
IS DEMANDING FOR 40%,SO I HAVE TO STOP COMMUNICATING WITH HIM AND ORDERED
THE DIPLOMAT NOT TO CONTACT HIM.

I WANT YOU TO STAND NOW AS THE RECEIVER/CLAIMER AND RECEIVE THIS FUND,WHILE
I
WILL BE TRAVELLING DOWN TO YOUR COUNTRY.I WILL COMPENSATE YOU WITH THEB 15%
OF THE FUND AS SOON AS IT IS IN YOUR POSSESSION.
PLEASE GET BACK TO ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WITH THIS EMAIL
ADDRESS;replyto.s.idris@googlemail.com

IF YOU WILL LIKE TO HAVE MORE DETAIL,PLEASE GET BACK TO ME AND BE SPECIFIC.

REGARDS,
SULEMAN W.IDRIS

Anti-fraud resources: