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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: "Martin" <martinrice@centrum.sk>
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 2010 13:21:21 +0100
Subject: Highly Confidential!























Season
Greetings,

This mail might be a surprise to you but I want to implore
that you should ignore the temptation of taking this for granted. I am Capt.
Martin Rice an Army Officer {general} attached to US ARMY; I got your contact
from an email journal and decided to write to you.

I was working with the
US Army of D'Company, 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, in Iraq. I and my
crew members discovered $700M USD in Saddam Hussein's palace in April 2003
during the searched by US troops. The money had been hidden behind the false
wall of a house.

It is thought the stash could have been left by fleeing
regime leaders. We managed to move away a total sum of US$17.5 Million dollars
cash out from the $700M USD, mostly 100-dollar bills and was quickly flown out
of the war zone and deposited in an undisclosed secured and secret location
outside the Middle East after we have all agreed to keep it secret since the war
was still on.

But unfortunately, the rest of my crew members lost their
lives to the wicked Iraqi insurgents, as you know we were being attacked by
insurgents everyday and car Bombs. I have kept this a secrete within me for
6years now since I am the only survival now and I cannot leave the boxes in the
security company anymore as this attracts more expenses on demurrage as long as
the boxes is still with the security company.

I am now in desperate need
of a "Reliable and Trustworthy" person as partner to assist me transfer these
funds into an account and invest the funds without further delay since I cannot
come out openly to claim it and at the same time five US soldiers are currently
being questioned by military officials after some of Saddam Hussein's money was
allegedly stolen following It's discovery. You can click on the web site for
more details of my story.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2988455.stm

so
please if you are interested in this transaction then 60% will be for me, while
you will take 40%.

I will send you the full details and the location of
the funds but my fear is Can I trust you? If you are willing as you receive this
letter, kindly send me an e-mail signifying your interest including your most
confidential telephone/fax numbers in order to forward to the security firm for
the release of the funds in your names or your company.

Please assure me
of your keeping this topmost secret within you so that my life would not be
jeopardized and to protect my Country's image and my name.
Respectfully,

Capt. Martin
Rice

martin_rice@live.com 




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