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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: "Zhao Xiulian" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <zhao_xiulian@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 15 Jan 2010 14:30:44 +0100
Subject: Your Consent?

Good Day,

I am introducing my self as Zhao Xiulian, a financial assistant to the life sentenced Ex Taiwanese
President (Chen Shui-bian) I worked under his cabinet for 4 years (2003-2007) before I was retired,
he was sentenced to life in prison in September 2009 after a Taiwan court convicted him on graft charges.

You can visit this link for more info:

http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/c/_chen_shuibian/index.html?inline=nyt-per

I’m presently on exile in Tokyo, Japan. I'm very sick in the hospital with cancer of the esophageal which
has taken my voice. I’m Requesting for your assistance in a financial transaction and I wish to invest in
your country on any good lucrative business you know much better than me.

I have four million eight hundred thousand united states dollars USD ($4,800,000.00) to invest in your
country, I embezzled this money while working under the Ex Taiwanese President as his personal financial
assistant, the money was concealed in some millitary safe (packages) which was deposited in Europe and
was later lifted to Nigeria where the concealed millitary safe (packages) is now under the care of a security
company, this shipments was made for the purpose of security and privacy, now the money has no trace.

I want to move this money to you and I want you to provide a safe location where we can quietly move the
money to, if you can provide a safe location where we can move the money to I will make you the
beneficiary to the money and you will have fifty percent of the total sum to yourself while you will help me
invest the rest in your country. Please note that you can never get into any trouble about this deal but you
have to keep it very confidential.

Please it is very important you contact me immediately for further details if you are interested.
Awaiting your immediate response

Thanks.
Zhao Xiulian


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