joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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 Prisca Andrew" (may be fake)
Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:01:50 +0100
Subject: From Mrs Prisca Andrew ( You Are God's Choice )

My dear respected One,
 
I have to write you this few words, as presently I do not have a choice but to be a blessing to you and to the poor in other countries as I have always wished.
 
It's with tears and pains that I write this mail from my sick bed in the hospital. I believe you have never met such a condition before.I'm sorry to bother you with my pains and vision for the poor. But I can't keep quiet because I have a strong feelings I'm going to die soon through this cancer diseases as indicated by my doctor three days ago.I have been a widow since the past two years, but before my husband died we both had a vision for the poor to be a blessing to them.
 
After my husband's death, I tried to fulfill this vision we had together but it did not work out well as I wished because I have tried several times giving out money to people, family members and organization for the well being of the poor here and in other countries but I found out that they never used it for the poor as I planned, rather they end up using it for their own personal use.This has caused me great pains in my heart and health.I don't know if I can TRUST you as I have been praying over this issue for the past one month, to entrust this huge amount of money or funds in your hands for the welfare of the poor and other rightful charity homes which you know.But if for any reason you find my mail offensive, you can ignore it and please accept my apology.
 
If you assure me that you can be TRUSTED in this matter, that you will not act like the other people and organization whom I gave money and they failed me, then I will link you to the bank where this funds has been lodged by my late husband, to effect wire transfer of the funds to you as my relative in other to carry out this great vision on my behalf.I hope you won't disappoint me now and even after my death concerning this vision I'm handing over to you?
 
Kindly indicate your interest to my mail, to enable me open up the actual amount with its interest to you on my next mail to you if you indicate a positive interest and also to detail you on how the fund should be disbursed immediately is transferred to your account. Once more, I want you to assure me that you can handle this vision which am entrusting in your hands, as soon as this funds is been transferred to you, so that when I die my soul will rest in peace.Please not just assuring me to trust you but also to assure me that you will move on with this fund transfer processing with the bank here with every urgency and confidentiality until you confirm it in your account.
 
Have a nice day as I look forward to hear from you immediately.
 
Yours Sister in Christ,
 
Mrs.Prisca Andrew

Anti-fraud resources: