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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

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

Fraud email example:

From: prisca johnsn <priscajohnson9@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: priscajohnson012@live.co.uk
Date: Mon, 19 Apr 2010 09:40:17 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: From prisca johnson


>From prisca johnson
 
Dear One,
 
I am ms prisca johnson. From Abidjan Cote d'ivoire
I am writing to seek your partnership in the investment of my
inheritance fund (USD$5.5M)  (Five Million Five houndred thousand)
united states dollars, from my late father who died mysteriously some
months ago. I lost my mother when I was barely a year old and my father
refused to re-marry another wife because he felt solely responsible for
my mother's death. This is so because he concentrated much on his
businesses that he rarely pays attention to domestic affairs. He was
always travelling taking care of his businesses that he did not notice
when my mother took ill. He thought it was a minor illness and was
ignorant of this. My mother on her own resorted to self-medication. It
was not until the illness degenerated that my father took my mother to
hospital where she was diagnosed to find out that hypatitis had eaten
deep into her blood stream. She didn't last long before she died. This
happened when I was barely a year old. it was as a result of this that
he made me the next of kin to his fund deposit with the bank and stated
that in the event of any eventuality, I should have a direct access to
the fund only when I am 24 years of age otherwise, I should have a
guardian/partner intercede on my behalf for the release of the funds to
me. Unfortunately, he died late last year and I am 21 years of age
currently. This is why I have contacted you to serve as a guardian to me
and as my foreign partner for the investment of the fund overseas My
uncles does not know about the fund because they had already taken my
father's houses and other properties because I am a girl and they said I
do not have rights for any property. They have  requested to have my
father's bank papers but I simply told them that I do not know where he
kept them. The younger brother took the house in the village while the
houses in
the town were sold out they shared the proceed they got from the sale.
Right now, I am at the guest house and do sincerely want to travel out
of my country. This can only happen when I have secured the release and
transfer of the funds in the bank. This why it is important that we have
a plan on the type of lucrative business that we can invest the funds
on. I had at various times had discussions with the director of
international remittance unit of the bank where my father deposited the
fund and I was assured that once, I have someone who would be willing to
receive the funds on my behalf, they shall commence all proceedings to
effect the release and transfer of the funds into the person's
designated account. Now, that you have signified your interest to
partner with me,it would only be very necessary if you contact the bank
and request for the release and transfer of my inheritance fund into
your nominated account for the purpose of investment and to
 further have me come over to your country to continue with my studies.I
shall be giving you the bank's contact details as soon as I hear back
from you so that you will go ahead and contact the bank.Further
directives and details about the deposit and on how to move the fund
successfully into your private bank account in your country will be
given to you as soon as I get your response.    thanks.
 
Yours Faithfully.

prisca johnson.

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