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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: "Miss.Catherine George" <cath03geo@yahoo.co.th>
Reply-To: cath55geo@yahoo.co.th
Date: Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:47:09 -0200 (BRST)
Subject: Dearest One,

Dearest One,
I am so happy for your health may almighty God be with you by
understanding this message. I want to tell you that I really want to been
relationship with you. Though we've not met before now but it takes one
day for two to be together in unity and peaceful life, I'm Miss Catherine
George the only child/daughter of late Mrs Helen George, from Cote
d'ivoire west Africa,

I am 21years old girl. I lost my parent, and I have an inheritance from my
late mother, My parents were very wealthy farmers and cocoa merchant when
they were alive, After the death of my father, long ago, my mother was
controlling his business until she was poisoned by her business associates
which she suffered before she died.

Before the death of my mother on October 2006 in a private hospital here
in Coted'ivoire where she was admitted, she secretly called me on her bed
side and disclosed to me about the sum of five million five hundred US
dollars ($5.5million ) she packed it in a METALIC TRUNK BOX and deposited
it in one of the security here in Abidjan which I have verified it real,

It was the money she intended to use open a company overseas for
investment before she died, She also instructed me that I should seek for
a foreign partner in any country of my choice who will assist me claim the
Trunk Box out from the security company here to overseas where the money
will be save and invested wisely, Because of the current political problem
here in Ivory Coast I decided to confide the money to you abroad where it
will be save and invested because I am still a new person in the area of
transaction, therefore, I am crying and seeking for your kind assistance
in the following ways:
Miss Catherine George.
(1) To contact the security company where my late mother deposited the box
for claim on my behalf for investment,
(2) To serve as a guardian of this fund since I am only 21 years old,
(3) To make arrangement for me to come over to your country to further
my education and to secure a resident permit for me in your country.

I have decided to offer you 20% Of the total amount for your willingness
to help me, Please kindly response to my mail immediately with your full
personal information, telephone number so that I can call and speak with
you on the telephone,

Thanks for your understanding may God bless you in Jesus name Amen,

Miss Cartherine George.

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