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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: "Katrina Turner" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <katrinaturner@gala.net>
Date: Sat, 27 Mar 2010 12:33:10 -0500
Subject: Hello

Dear Friend
I apologize if the content of this e-mail is against your moral belief.Nevertheless, i will advise you
pay close attention to the information i am about to divulge to you with utmost confidentiality.
You might probably think this is just another scam or scheme, but i assure you that you can only
know the truth if you read carefully the content herein.

My name is Katrina Turner presently in Europe for medical treatment.I was hospitalized
and bed ridden after a ghastly auto accident involving my entire family on our way back from
camping in Cannes, South of France.Myself and husband survived with major injuries. But, he died
one week after the accident as a result the injuries sustained in his brain. More so, the doctor has
informed me that my health condition is getting worse.

This is as a result of the head injuries i sustained from the accident which has affected my brain and
caused a major damage to my spinal cord. I am told that i have a few months to live after a series of
surgeries and tests had being conducted.

Knowing this sad development, i have decided to dispose our estate and fund to a prudent and God
fearing person; who will disburse the money wisely for the work of charity and other ventures as he
deems fit.

This decision is based on the fact that i am the only surviving person in my family, with no extended
relatives to inherit these properties. I hate to think that the bank and security firm where we have
these assets lodged will confiscate and declare it unserviceable after my death; Hence, my reason
for this bold decision.

Although, i am a stranger to you and for all you know i could be just another of those Internet
con-artists. However, i will implore you to respond to this e-mail with a clear conscience and
"opened-eye" every step of the way until these funds are successfully in your possession. All that
you are required to do is assist in safe-keeping this fund valued at US $25.5 Million United States
Dollars deposited in anEscrow account with a security consultancy firm in Madrid,Spain, before
it gets confiscated or declared un-serviceable.

Therefore, i seek your consent to present you as the Trustee/Foreign Investor to my late husband,
so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you. I have all the necessary information,
guidelines and documents given to me by my husband before his death. Your honest and full
co-operation is all that is required to enable us see this transaction through. But it is imminent
I state to you clearly now that this transaction will be executed through normal banking proceedings.

Although, i guarantee that this will be executed under a proper arrangement that will be sternly
monitored by me every step of the way.

I will appreciate your utmost confidentiality and discreetness in this matter until the task is
accomplished, as i don't want anything that will Jeopardize this transaction. I know i have never met
you in person, but my intuition tells me to do this, and I hope you act sincerely. Note that, 40% of
thetotal fund will be given to you and family upon the successful release of this fund, because I
am now too weak and fragile to do things myself.

Please, include your full name, resident address and phone numbers when responding to this e-mail.

My best regards to your family,

Katrina Turner

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