joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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 Maryjen Mark" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrs_maryjen_mark@hotmail.fr>
Date: Thu, 20 May 2010 21:34:12 -0000
Subject: FROM MRS. MARYJEN MARK

FROM MRS. MARYJEN MARK
ABIDJAN, COTE D' IVOIRE
05 B.P 107 B.P 07 ABIDJAN.


With Due Respect and Humanity, I was compelled to write to you under a humanitarian ground. My name is
Mrs.Maryjen Mark from Island, I am 68yrs old. I am married to late Engr. William Mark who worked on Oil
Company in Cote d'Ivoire. Before he retired in the year 2003. He died in the year 2008 after a Cardiac Arterie
s Operation. We were married for 38 years without a child.And Recently, My Doctor told me that I would not
last for the next six months due to my cancer problem (cancer of the lever and stroke). When my late
husband was alive he deposited the sum of $4.6.Million in one of the finance firm here in Abidjan capital of
Cote d'Ivoire for safe keeping. Presently this money is still in the Vault of the finance firm. Having known my
condition I decided to hand over this money to an individual, Brother or sister that will utilize this money in
the way I am going to instruct herein. I want that you use this money according to the desire of my late
husband to help the less privileged, orphanages and propagating the word of God. I took this decision
because I don't have any child that will inherit this money, and I don't want in away where this money will
be used in an ungodly way. This is why I am taking this decision to hand you over this money. I am not
afraid of death hence I know where I am going. I want you to always remember me in your daily prayers
because of my up coming Cancer Surgery. Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I have Stated
herein. Hope to receive your urgent reply. Due to the present condition of my health, was warned by my
doctor to avoid receiving or making any call. You can always reach me through this my private email address.


Yours Sister in Christ,

Mrs. Maryjen Mark

Anti-fraud resources: