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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: "Lady Helen Crawford" <ladyhelencrawford_funds4charity@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: ladyhelencrawford_fund4charity@hotmail.com
Date: Fri, 11 Jun 2010 17:29:18 -0400 (CLT)
Subject: My Noble Wish...Crawford Charity Foundation.

Dearly Beloved,

I am Lady Helen Crawford, suffering from cancerous ailment. I was married
to Sir William Crawford an English shipping tycoon notable for his great
wealth, influential extended family, and charitable activities all his
life before his death. My husband died after a protracted illness in April
5th, 2006. Our life together as husband and wife lasted for about three
decades without a child.

My late husband and I made a vow to uplift the down-trodden and the
less-privileged individuals in the society, as we both had passion for
those people who can not help themselves due to physical disability or
financial predicament. I can adduce this to the fact that we both needed a
Child from this relationship, which never came. When my late husband was
alive he invested in stocks the sum of Twenty Five Million Pounds Sterling
(25,000,000.00 GBP), which were derived from his vast investment in
capital market with a Security Company here in UK and named me as the sole
beneficiary of this trust funds upon his demise.(all records are kept with
my family lawyer).

Presently, this funds is still with the Security Company. Two weeks ago my
Doctor told me that I have limited days to live, due to the cancerous
problems that i have been suffering from. Though what bothers me most is
the stroke that I have in addition with the cancer. Hence, with this hard
reality that has befallen my family and me, i have decided to donate this
funds to you and i want you to use this gift which comes from my husbands
effort to establish a charity home called "Crawford Charity Foundation"
for the upkeep of widows, orphans, destitute, the down- trodden,
physically challenged children, barren-women and persons who prove to be
genuinely handicapped financially around you, as it is often said that
blessed is the hand that giveth.

I took this decision because I do not have any child that will inherit
this money and my husband relatives are bourgeois and very wealthy persons
and I do not want my husband's hard earned money to be misused or invested
into ill perceived ventures. Also i do not want a situation where this
funds will be used in a worldly manner, hence my reason for taking this
bold decision. I do not need any telephone communication in this regard
due to my deteriorating health and because of the presence of my husband
relatives around me, as i am currently bedridden in my husband Family
house here in Manchester, England and do not receive any visitors unless
approved by Sir Talmud Crawford, my late husband immediate younger
brother. I do not want them to know about this development in order to
safeguard this bequeath.

So, i want you to Contact my family lawyer Barrister Paul Westley (ESQ)
with this specified email address: apau1_lawfirms@live.com and tell him
that I have WILLED this funds to you by quoting my personal reference
number Law/chamber/solicitors/rt/cfd/WILL/9834520012, as i have earlier
authorized him to issue a Letter of Authority in your favor to the
Security Company handling this stocks by telling them that I have WILLED
this funds to you for a specific purpose and good work. He will also
endorse my WILL, where you will be named as the sole beneficiary of this
trust funds. Please ensure to provide for him all that he may require to
finalize this arrangement, and make sure you maintain a confidential and
cordial relationship with him even in my absence, because he is a very
trust worthy and caring person.

My happiness today is that I lived a life worthy of emulation and i want
you to be kindhearted all through your life. Please, assure me that you
will act just as I have stated herein, as i hope to hear from him soon
that you have contacted him with his personal email address that i have
given to you above. Hence, he is currently waiting to receive your reply.

Remain bless.

Lady Helen Crawford


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