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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Caroline Ikemba" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <caro.ikemba@gala.net>
Date: Sat, 3 Apr 2010 10:45:41 +0100
Subject: Without Prejudice...Your 80.150.104.75

Kind Attention:
 
I am sorry as this email may come to you as a surprise. This is following the sudden death of my husband. I have been thrown into a state of utter confusion, frustration and hopelessness by my late husband's family members. I have been subjected to physical and psychological torture  by them.
My late husband intended to establish a business abroad with the sum of US$9,000,000.00 but unfortunately he died before this proposed venture. Following his death, his family members insisted that I am not entitled to his property (Assets and money) since I am a woman and my only offspring is a little girl, as I do not have a male child for my husband, according to some barbaric traditional laws here in (Africa) which doesn't permit a woman to inherit a man's property, as they are expected by tradition to take over the management of his business and other properties including myself who automatically  becomes a wife to one of his immediate brothers.
Unfortunately to these wicked family members, they do not know that my late husband deposited money with a Financial Institution unknown to his family members. I am the only one aware of this money, so I have discussed this matter with our family lawyer that I want this money personally so that I will be able to take care of my child's educational needs.
According to our family lawyer, the best way to secure this money is to transfer this money to a bank account outside  my country For  safe-keeping, later I can then use it for business establishment. I therefore ask for your sincere assistance to facilitate the remittance of this fund from this bank. However, I have decided to give you (25%) of this fund  as a reward for your sincere assistance, while 75% will be for me and my child. As soon as I get your positive response, I shall provide you with all the necessary detail for this transfer.
I am seriously considering to settle down abroad in a friendly atmosphere like yours as soon as this fund get into your account so that I and my child can start all over again if only you wish.
Please honesty is the watch word in this transaction. I will require your telephone and fax numbers so that we can commence communication  immediately.
I will greatly appreciate if you accept my proposal in good faith, I can be reached on +2348050206153.
Please expedite action. I am very much in earnest about this. Please do not treat as spam!
Best Regards.
Mrs. Caroline Ikemba
Tel:+234 8050206153

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