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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: "Octai Fitch" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <octaifitch@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 8 Dec 2010 03:51:39 +0800
Subject: Attention!!!

Good day,

A 100% security screening and scrutiny was carried out in the terminal
in London following the emergency 'search all' policy that was
mandated at the early hours of today. At exactly 2:00 P.M today, 27th
Oct, an abandoned luggage was screened and its content was revealed.
It contained cash worth over US$4,000,000 according to our financial
attachment panel. This violates the article 5 of the 2002 constitution
on freight and cargo of the United Kingdom and Great Britain, which
adverts against
sponsorship of illegal and illicit financial omen such as drug
trafficking and terrorism acts which is punishable under international
Law ground. Along side the fund were documents containing your
personal and work data which was where your contact was gotten from.

I am agent Octai Fitch, a terminal attendant and also a United
Nation's (UN) diplomatic agent and emissary representing the United
Nations right here. When the discovery of the fund was made by the
airport authorities, the security agencies on duty deliberated over
alerting your country's Interpol to order your immediate arrest
for violating an international Law when i intervened by lying to them
that the luggage and it's content are properties of the United Nations
and the funds are meant for Charitable urban regional development
projects. As God may have it, my stories calmed the tension down. You
see, i did not only stop you from loosing your fund, but also saved
your head from trial over terrorism and drug trafficking related
charges. Now listen carefully, i need you to get back to me with
immediate effect to discuss how i can help you in this then discuss my
percentage since i have interest in this very fund. Feel free to
e-mail be back or call me on my direct mobile line: +447024037519.

Cheers,

Octai Fitch

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