joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
 Free trial for 30 days
   jwSpamSpy
Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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: "BARRISTER PETER FRED" (may be fake)
Date: Thu, 8 Apr 2010 18:52:36 +0100
Subject: RE: URGENT REPLY NEEDED

Dear Beloveth,
 
My name is Barrister Peter Fred a citizen of America. But currently residing in the United Kingdom. I was the personal Lawyer to Late Mr. Sean Smith of blessed memory who was an oil explorer in Kuwait for twelve years before he died in the year 1997.
 
His wife Dorah Smith died of "Cancer" which lead to his  illness, after realizing he has no issue in his marriage life for twelve years decided to lay his inheritance which includes the sum US$3.5Million, with the Central Bank of West African States (Bank Website: http://www.bceao.int) to be claim.
 
Please, I wish to present you as the beneficiary of this fund otherwise the bank will acquicite it to themselves in further delay.
 
Please reply for more details.
Remain Blessed.
Barrister Peter Fred
 

Anti-fraud resources: