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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: "Sarah Johnson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sarahjohnsonzim001@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 3 Dec 2010 16:28:57 -0600
Subject: Urgent/Greeting

Hello and Greetings


I am sorry if this mail will come to you as an embarrassment or a surprise, I just felt like empting myself to you, I decided to confide in you, as am faced with total frustration and hardship. My ernest prayer is that you find this mail in good health and blessings. My name is Sarah Johnson from Zimbabwe but i am presently residing in Europe . I left my country after my Father was murdered by an agent of the ruling government of President Robert Mugabe for his alleged support and sympathy for Zimbabweans opposition party and over a land dispute. This land problem arose when the President Introduced a new Land Act that wholly affected the rich white farmers but some few blacks vehemently condemned the modus adopted by the government which resulted in rampant killing and mob actions

Secondly, my late father concealed some amount of money in a trunk box and deposited it in a Security Company to the tune of $10.3 million dollars. The contents was declared as family treasure because he knew the looming danger in Zimbabwe. The money was deposited as gem/precious stones in order to avoid much demurrage and it were earmarked for the purchase of machinery with chemicals for our farms and also for the establishment of new farms in New Zealand, Switzerland and Lesotho. My father confided so much in me after the death of my mother,we were so close that he never did anything without my knowledge and opinion. All that I want is your sincere and genuine help to retrieve and safe guide this trunk. Please I anxiously need for your assistance, although this issue may be difficult for you to comprehend but it is certainly the truth and I am privy to all Information that will be use to facilitate the release of the funds to you. So if you are willing to assist me kindly reply my mail by indicating your i


Sarah Johnson

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