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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: "Mrs Shirah Van Vuuren" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <shirah.van@hesperial.com>
Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2010 16:38:22 +0100
Subject: Re: Hope to believe you on this.

My Dear,
 
 
I am Mrs Shirah van Vuuren. I am married to Mr.Robert Van Vuuren who worked under late Gen Sanni Abacha(former Nigerian president) before he died in the year 2003. We were married for eleven years without a child. He died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days. Before his death we were both good Christians. Since his death I decided not to remarry or get a child outside my matrimonial home .
 
 
When my late husband was alive he deposited a total  sum of $12.5Million in a Bank. Presently this money is still in the custody of the Bank.
Recently, my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next Eight months due to cancer problem. Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to a an organization or any good person that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct herein. I want the money to be used to assist for orphanages, widows, or the less priviledged accross the world.
 
l took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this money and my husband`s relatives are very bad, not even good at all because they are the ones that killed my husband in order to have all my late husband's properties. As a matter of fact, I don't want my late husband's efforts to be used by unbelievers and I don't want a situation where this money will be used carelessly.
 
 
This is why I am taking this decision. I am not afraid of death hence I know where I am going. I don't need any telephone communication in this regard because of my health hence the presence of my husband's relatives around me always. I don't want them to know about this development. As soon as I receive your reply I shall write a letter of authorisation to the bank requsting the to transfer ownership of the money to you . My happiness is that I lived a life of a worthy mother.
 
 
Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated therein. Hoping to receive your response immedaitely. You can also contact my personal lawyer Richard Konelsky on phone number +2348096433665
 
 
Thanks
Mrs Shirah Van Vuuren,

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