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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: "Desmond" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <hanadesmond@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 2009 17:13:36 +0700
Subject: Assist Us

DEAR FRIEND,

It is with great pleasure to write you today, hope you are doing fine?
Please I will need your help,i lost my husband in Zimbabwe, i am widow ,My name is MRS HANNA DESMOND) .
My husband was assassinated by the present government of Robert Mugabe early this year while serving under the his administration as a top official banker in the central bank of Zimbabwe.

since his death this year, i have been passing through family problem with his family members, which they had to freeze the whole accounts and his Properties.
Two weeks before my husband left me on the 7th of jan 2009 he handed over to me this deposit documents, which he revealed to me was funds deposited as gift items\family treasures and kept in a security company in London UK for safekeeping.

Considering Social/political economic situation in my country,I am now in London-UK on political asylum.
I hereby plead onbehalf of my kid (Anthony Desmond)to help me transfer the fund safely to your country , which i would like to use for investment in your country , and help me to relocate privately!!

The following vital information is need for further Dispensation analysis upon this transaction.
Full Name:
Complete Contact Address:
Age:
Contact Numbers:
Occupation:
Copy Of Valid ID:

Thank you and i look forward reading from you urgently ,I am very sorry for any inconveniences i may have caused you reading my letter.
Get back to me through this email: hanna.desmond@googlemail.com
BEST REGARDS.
Hanna Desmond
LONDON-UK

Anti-fraud resources: