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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.Yi Kwan" <kwan@yahoo.com.hk>
Reply-To: yi_kwan900@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Sun, 20 Jun 2010 12:32:03 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: Hello Friend,

Hello Friend,

I am Mr.Yi Kwan, supervisor on investment in Standard Chartered Bank,Hong
Kong.; I have a sensitive, confidential brief from Hong Kong and I am
asking for your partnership in re- profiling funds ($18,500,000.00 USD).
What I require from you is your honest co-operation and I guarantee that
this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you
and I from any breach of the law. Please accept my apologies, keep my
confidence and disregard this email if you do not appreciate this
proposition I have offered you.
All confirmable documents to back up this fund shall be made available to
you, as soon as I receive your response.
I greet,

Mr.Yi Kwan

Anti-fraud resources: