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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: velora <velora@gmx.com>
Date: Mon, 20 Sep 2010 00:44:36 +0800
Subject: From your friend Velora


Dear Sir,

Sorry if this message comes to you as a surprise but please treat it very urgent as it has to do with my life. I am Miss. Velma Velora THüMMEL of 21 years old, the only surviving daughter of later Mr.and Mrs.THUMMEL, the wealthy Cocoa and Timber merchant who was poisoned by his business associates on the 22nd of April 2008. My mother died when I was a baby and since then my father took me so special before his death at the specialist hospital in Sudan. I was left alone in the world without any assistance from any body and covered with tragedy. I am now in the refugee camp in Congo as I ran out for my dear life.

Before his death in the specialist hospital, he called me by his bed side and told me that he had deposited US$ 3.5 Million with a Finance and Security company in Lome, the Republic of Togo in West Africa. According to him, the money was starched in a trunk box and was declared and deposited as family treasure with the Security and Finance Company. The Finance and Security company is not aware of the real contents of the box. He told me to seek for a foreigner who will represent as his business associate abroad and also stand as the next of Kin to claim the consignment out from the security company because it was deposited to be released to any of his foreign associates abroad on the presentation of the following documents.(A) Secret "CODE" (B) Certificate of Deposit and (C) Receipt Invoice.

I have these documents to present on your behalf or send them to you to attach on your application of claim. This consignment can not be released to me as I am not a foreigner so all I am asking from you is the followings.

1) To represent as the Business Associate of my late father and apply for the release of the consignment to you.

2) To serve as a guardian of this fund since I am still in a tender age to invest this kind of money.

3) To make arrangement for me to come over to your country and further my education and also to secure a resident permit in your country.

My fear has been on the management and security of the fund for the mere fact that I have no parents. So I will ask for your assistance and help to invest this fund into a valuable ventures such as Real estate management, Hotel management or Petroleum company. I have to present you to the security company as the manager and foreign partner of my late father with all the documents available for the claim. I will do this if you sincerely accept this proposal and make up your mind to work with me. I do not want you to disclose this issue to any other party for my security sake as I am currently living in the refugee camp in Accra. My Dear I have agreed to offer you 25% of the total sum as compensation for your effort/ input after the successful conclusion of this affair

I wait to receive your urgent response for the way forward.

Thanks and remain bless.

Miss. Velma V. Thummel

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