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: "CAPT. CHARLES HARRISON" <charles.harrison222@googlemail.com> (may be fake)
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:49:25 -0500
Subject: PLEASE GET BACK TO ME IMMEDIATELY.

Dear Friend,

I am Captain Charles Harrison, a United States Marine Corps (U.S.M.C.), On Peace mission in Baghdad-Iraq. Three days ago, we were alerted on the sudden presence of some Terrorists camping in a suburb close to Karbala here in Iraq. We Immediately intervened and captured three (3) of the Terrorists, in the process of Interrogations they confessed being rebels to late Ayman al-Zawahiri and took us to a cave in Karbala where their camp is located.
We conducted a thourogh search and recovered several Ammunitions including some Metallic Boxes, to my amazement containing a huge amount of United States Dollars amounting to ($22M) Twenty Two Million U.S. Dollars. After I and two of my junior intelligent officers completed our investigations, I then instructed them to keep this in high secrecy.

I have quickly concluded all arrangements to move this Box of out Baghdad.
Note, there is absolutely no risk involved. I am therefore seeking for your reliable assistance to receive and safeguard this money for me till am done with my assignment here in Iraq. I assure and promise to give you 30% of this fund for your honesty and assistance in safeguarding it.


This is a matter of urgency, get back to me for immediate action via email.

Sincere Regards,

Capt. Charles Harrison.







Anti-fraud resources: