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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: "Mrs.Rachel James" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrsracheljames@aol.com>
Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 03:30:13 -0700
Subject: Thanks and may the almighty God bless you (AMEN)

Hello,

I know you will be surprise to receive my message, I got your email address from
a mail Directory. I am Mrs. Rachel James from Netherlands, a foreigner married
to (Dr.Roberto James) who worked with a construction company in Asia for twenty
Years before he died in the tsunami disasters, we were married but without any
children.

Since after my husband death I decided not to re-marry and presently I am 68
years old. When my husband was still alive he deposited the sum of US$7.5
Million Dollars (Seven Million Five Hundred Thousand United Sates Dollars) with
a Security & Finance Vault Company in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.

Presently this money is still with the Security & Finance vault Company and the
management wrote me as the next beneficiary to my late husband to come forward
to collect the money because the date which my late husband agreed with security
& finance company for collection has expired and due to my condition of my
health since and unable to go and collect the money, I should prepare a letter
of authorization to somebody whom I trust to collect the fund on my behalf.

Presently, am hospitalize for months now for CANCER of the lungs, and I have
since then lost my ability to talk and the Doctors said I have few month to
live.

My husband relatives don’t care about my health, they have collected and sold
other properties owned by my late husband, they are wicked to me also they don’t
come to the hospital where am receiving treatment to know if and dead or alive.
I will not be happy to let my husband relatives have everything that belongs to
my late husband and, this is why am contacting you with my honest and faithful
heart to sign the above amount to you, so that you will utilize 60% of this
money to the following like churches, orphanages home, handicaps and widows
around the world but all should be on my late husband and I name, so that I will
be happy in my grave when I join my late husband.

If I receive your reply I will give you all the information on how to collect
the money from the Security & Finance Vault Company in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.
where the fund is been deposited. I will also issue you a letter of authority
declaring you as the next beneficiary and how you will utilize or disburse the
fund. Please assure me that you will act accordingly and keep all details
confidential and close to heart.

Lastly I want you too provide me with the following information. Your legitimate
name,Contact address,Nationality,Age,Tel/fax numbers.


I expect your prompt reply

Regards,
Mother Rachel James

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