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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 Catherine David" <info@mail.com>
Reply-To: sos.catherinedavid@9.cn
Date: Thu, 25 Mar 2010 18:03:51 +0800
Subject: READ

Lady Catherine David.
4 Old Church Street,
Chelsea, SW3,
England.

Good day to you. I humbly wish to introduce myself to you through this Medium
though it has been abused by people against the initial anticipation and
intent of the inventors. I'm pleased for contacting you to help my husband's
dream come true.I am Lady Catherine David, suffering
from cancerous ailment. I am married to Engineer Silas David an Englishman
who is dead. My husband was in private practice all his life before his
death. Our life together as man and wife lasted for three decades without a
child. My husband died after a protracted illness. My husband and I made a
vow to uplift the down-trodden and the less-privileged individuals as he had
passion for persons who cannot help themselves due to physical disability or
financial predicament. When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of
3 Million[Three Million Great Britain Pounds
Sterling] in 2 boxes which were derived from his vast estates and investment
in capital market with a Finance/Security Company here in UK. Presently, this
money is still with the Security company.

Recently, my Doctor told me that I have limited days to live due to the
cancerous problems I am suffering from. Though what bothers me most is the
stroke that I have in addition to the cancer. With this hard reality that has
befallen my family, and me I have decided to donate this fund to you and want
you to use this gift which comes from my husbands effort to fund the upkeep
of widows, widowers, orphans, destitute, the down-trodden, physically
challenged children, barren-women and financially handicapped people.I took
this decision because I do not have any child that will inherit this money
and my husband relatives are bourgeois and very wealthy
persons and I do not want my husband's hard earned money to be misused or
invested into ill perceived ventures.As soon as I receive your reply Ishall
give you the contact of the finance/Security Company here in uk. I will also
issue you a Letter of Authority that will empower you as the original
beneficiary of this fund. Hope to hear from you soon and God bless you and
members of your family. Please reply me through r:sos.catherinedavid@9.cn

Yours Faithfully,
Madam catherine David


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