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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: Mr Joseph Edward Duke <mr_joseeduke@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 2 May 2010 11:35:58 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Hello







Hello
It gives me a great deal of pleasure to write you this mail and even when it might come to you as a surprise. I hope you find it of interest.
 
My name is Joseph  Edward Duke. I am an Auditor with a Bank here in Burkina Faso . I would like to use this means to ask your assistance in moving some funds over to your country.I have in the course of my duties come in contact with some funds that have been inactive for some years now and careful investigation proved the original depositor of the funds died some years ago. All attempts to reach the suppose beneficiary of the deposit were fruitless and before it is forfeited to the state, I decided to move it.
 
I have the courage to look for a  reliable and Honest Person who will be capable for this important business transaction,believing that you will never let me down either now or in Future as this transaction will involve some soft expenses in the area of procuring some vital legal documents to authenticate your next of kinship before the transfer will be made into your norminated account and I will like to receive your assurrance on it as the bank will not conclude the presence without you properly justifying yourself both legally and otherwise.
 
On the other hand, the owner of this account is a foreigner and he is the Manager of a petrol chemical service, a chemical engineer by Proffession and my investigation proved to me as well that his company does not know anything about this account as I want to transfer this money into a safe foreign account abroad but I don't know any foreigner despite knowing that this message will come to you as a surprise as we don't know ourselves before, but be sure that it is real and A Genuine business as I hope that you will never let me down in this transaction, at the conclusion of this business, I look forward to your earlier reply by email for more details.
 
call me precisely
00226.78.02.05.49
 
Thanks.
Best Regard,
Mr Joseph  Edward Duke




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