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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: "Mrs.Cathy Bills" <cathybills54@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: cathybills55@aol.com
Date: Tue, 03 Aug 2010 05:21:12 +0200
Subject: Reply



Dear Friend,

This letter may come to you as a surprise due to the fact that we have not yet
met.After searching through your country's Chamber of Commerce and
industry here
in London I am contacting you to assist me,I don't want you to feel sorry for
me, because, I believe everyone will die someday. My name is Mrs,Cathy Bills,a
merchant here in London, presently taking medical treatment now. I have been
diagnosed with Blood Cancer and Esophageal cancer that was discovered
very late
due to my uncaring attitude for my health. It has defiled all form of medicine
and right now, I have only about a few weeks to live according to medical
experts. To be honest with you, I was never generous, Now that I know
my time is
almost up, I have willed and given most of my properties and assets to my
immediate and extended family members I have decided to give alms to charity
organizations, as I want this to be one of the last good deeds I do on earth.

The last of my money is the huge cash deposit ($21m) that I have with
a security
firm here in London (Alex Securities). I will want you to help me collect this
deposit and dispatched it to charity organizations and let them know
that it is
me Cathy Bills that is making this generous donation. I am writing
this from my
laptop computer in my hospital bed where I wait for my time to come.

Please reply me through my private email address: cathybills55@aol.com

As soon as I received your sincere response, I will hence give you all the
necessary details of how this can be done. I pray that you will support and
assist me with good heart so that I can be able to achieve my goal. If you
accept to help me do this, I promise you a reward of 30% of the
($21million U.S.D).

Thank you for understanding.

Cathy Bills.

Anti-fraud resources: