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: "Mr.Johnson Dick" <web2win@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: vit3win@hotmail.com
Date: Sat, 29 May 2010 13:56:00 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Regards





Hello
  
I would like to apply through this medium for your co-operation and to secure an opportunity to invest in your country.
  
I am Mr. Johnson Dick, I’m an Auditor in a well-known bank, here in South Africa, during the course of our auditing I discovered a floating fund in an account opened in the bank in 1999 by foreign customer in my bank and since 2005 nobody has operated on this account again, it will be in my interest to transfer the fund worth (Thirty Six Million, Five hundred thousand US Dollars) to foreign country.
  
On indication of your willingness to handle this transaction sincerely by protecting our interests and upon your acceptance of this proposal, I would furnish you with the full detailed information.
  
I shall be glad to reserve this respect and opportunity for you, but do urge you to give the matter your immediate attention it deserves. I look forward to your response.
  
Regards,
Mr.Johnson Dick.

Anti-fraud resources: