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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: "Yvette Richmond" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <skpm450@msn.com>
Date: Sat, 17 Oct 2009 16:27:06 -0000
Subject: INQUIRY. (Recommendation from a Friend)

INQUIRY. (Recommendation from a Friend).
 
 
Hello,
 
 
It is a good a thing to writting you.I have a proposal for you-this however is not mandatory nor will I in any manner compel you to honour against your will. Is such a bit long ago since i saw your profile and i decided to contact you.I'm sorry to have contact you this way but this is due to some reason i 'm unable to handle here.
 
 
To start with I'm Yvette Richmond,20 years old and my junior brother Donald  Richmond the children of late parents Mr and Mrs. O'Neal Richmond from a Royal family in Ghana. My father was a highly reputable business magnet-(a cocoa merchant)who operated in the capital of Ivory coast during his days. It is sad to say that he passed away mysteriously in France during one of his business trips abroad year 12th.Febuary 2007.Though his sudden death was linked or rather suspected to have been masterminded by an uncle of his who travelled with him at that time.But God knows the truth!
 
 
Our mother died when I was 13 years old,and since then our father took us so special. Before my fathers death on Febuary 12 2007 told me he has the sum of Eleven million, seven hundred thousand United State Dollars. USD$11.700,000) left in one of the leading security company here in Abidjan Ivroy coast West Africa. He made the deposit of the fund in a metalic trunk box as containing family valuable that belongs to a foreign partner. He further told me that he deposited the box in my name as all the documents bear my name as the depositor,and for the company not to open the box he made the the beneficary as foreign partner.
 
 
I am just 20 years old and a university undergraduate,my only junior brother is 17years old and really we cannot handle the retrivement of this fund alone without the help of a foreign partner .This is because we have suffered a lot of set backs as a result of incessant political crisis here in Ivory coast. The death of our father actually brought alot sadnees to our life. I am in a sincere desire of your humble assistance in this regards.Your suggestions and ideas will be highly regarded.
 
 
Now permit me to ask these few questions:-
 
1. Can you honestly help us as your family ?
2. Can we completely trust you?
3. What percentage of the total amount in question will be good for you?
 
 
Please,Consider this and get back to me as soon as possible.
 
My sincer,
Yvette  Richmond .
 
 

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