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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.Brian Foster" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <brian.foster@tlen.pl>
Date: Fri, 4 Jan 1980 09:42:52 -0800
Subject: Dear Friend.get back to me.

 
Dear Friend.
 
Calvary greetings,hope this will not sound strange as my family lawyer who would have handled this executorship on my behalf died early this year after a protracted illness.
 
I got your email ID from your country guest book. I am Mrs.Brian Foster from Australia, 58 years old.suffering from cancer of the lungs, which has affected part of my brain cells as a result of complications. my condition presently is really deteriorating and according to my doctor, it,s quite obvious that I may not live for the next two months, this is because the cancer has gotten to a critical stage.
 
I was brought up in an orphanage home as a child of circumstance, having been abandoned at birth by my teenage biological mother and taken to an orphanage home. I was married to my late husband Mr.Gamal Foster for twenty years without a child. My husband was hypertensive which reselted to cardiac arrest that coursed his demise. After his death, I decided not to re-marry,as my ailment became terrible, I sold off all our choice properties which includes, personal belongings,a shopping mall,hotel, shares, bonds, jewelries and other valuable family treasures of which proceeds amounting to USD$5.2million dollarsi deposited with HSBC BANK PLC.As i write to you, the money is still intact in the Bank.However.
 
The management and board of the bank just wrote me in respect of overstayed fund biegn the depositor/beneficiary and since my current health situation will not permitt me to run around such heculian task,i decided contacting you in confidence to do so on my behalf as i will issue you with an authorization letter to do so Presently, I m writing you with my laptop in a hospital in london/England where I have been undergoing treatment for cancer of the lungs. My doctors like I said earlier told me that I have only two months to live so this if i can say serves as my wish/will as my desire is therefore, to see that 70% of this money will be donated to any charitable organization of your choice,the poor and motherless babies homes. You can also extend to churches and mosques, if you wish.
 
30% of the total sum will be for your personal use. I want you as a God fearing person, to take it upon yourself and use this money judisiously for the aforementioned purposes, I took this decision to better the lots of mankind in my little capacity, before I rest in peace in the bosom of the almighty.According to my physicians, my time will soon be up and since i came into this earth with nothing,surely i,m leaving with nothing. As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the official contact of the HSBC BANK PLC. to enable you work out modalities for the claim with them without delays.Remember, no risk is envolved as I will issue you with all required authorization that will see you as the new beneficiary of my will as the fund have an open beneficiary mandate and as such,whoever I authorize to act on my behalf that,s the only one the bank will recognize for the unconditional
release of the fund to. Please assure me that you will act in accordiance to  my wish as stated herein.
 
Yours Sincerely,
Mrs.Brian Foster
e-mail adress:brian.foster@tlen.pl

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