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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. Adada Mohammed" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <wahidadada300@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Thu, 20 May 2010 06:30:00 +0100
Subject: Re: Charity Request.

Hello Friend,

I am Mr. Adada an Oil merchant in Iraq; i have been diagnosed with esophageal cancer.
It has defied all forms of medical treatment, and right now I have only about a few months
to live, according to medical experts, just recently my doctor inform me i have a few weeks
to live due to the esophageal cancer. I have not particularly lived my life so well, as I never
really cared for anyone (not even myself) but my business. Though I am very rich, I was never
generous, I was always hostile to people and only focused on my business as that was the only
thing I cared for. But now I regret all this as I now know that there is more to life than just wanting
to have or make all the money in the world. I have decided to give alms to charity organizations, as
I want this to be one of the last good deeds I do on earth. The last of my money which no one knows
of is the huge cash deposit of fifteen million dollars $15, 000, 000,00 that I have with a finance/Security
Company abroad. I will want you to help me collect this deposit and dispatched it to charity organizations.
It may interest you to know that i once asked members of my family to close one of my accounts and
distribute the money which I have there to charity organization; they refused and kept the money to
themselves. Hence, I do not trust them anymore, as they seem not to be contended with what I have
left for them.

I have set aside 10% for you and for your time.

God be with you.

Mr. Adada

Anti-fraud resources: