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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.Helen Schranner" <helen.schrannerpvt@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: helenschranner@rediffmail.com
Date: Fri, 16 Apr 2010 17:05:42 +0100
Subject: My Beloved Friend

From Mrs Helen Schranner

My Beloved Friend,
           
           Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus,Amen.Please readthis slowly and carefully as it maybe one of the most important mailsyou'll ever get.My name is Mrs Helen Schranner from Australia.I wasmarried to late Mr. Andreas Schranner who is my husband,and also theCEO Kangaroo Oil Ltd,Australia,and a seasoned contractor in England.Hedied on the Tuesday,7th July 2009 in Tokyo.
          
            My late husband and i were married for years without achild of our own and after his death i decided not to re-marry or get achild outside my matrimonial home.As i speak to you,i have beendiagonalized with kidney infection,of which the doctors have confirmedand told me that i would not live up to 3months as a result of the thedamage that has already been done in my system.
           
             After my husband passed away,i realized he deposited ahuge sum of money in a bank in England.The money that was deposited inEngland is a total sum of £4.5million.As i write to you,i feel thatthe  money in the bank would be a waste after i die and that is why ihave come to a conclusion of donating the money out to the lessprivilege and also the motherless babies home.
       
             My husband's brother is an addicted smoker and drinker whospends his money on expensive drinks and unnecessary things and so i donot wish for him to have any of the money which my husband worked sohard for all his life.

            Please,my dear friend i have come to you to help me carryout this last wish of mine because i have been confined to a wheelchair in my home in France and so i can't travel all the way from here.
          
            If you wish to help me,write back to me at your earliestconvenience so that i would direct you to a legal practitioner inEngland who would help you in withdrawing the aforementioned funds fromthe bank.
          
          Deuteronomy 16:17"Every man shall give as he is able,according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you"and so i feel it is good if i take turn in touching the lives of othersmost especially as my time is due here on earth.
         
          I await your urgent reply.Thanks for your kindness

God Bless,
Yours Sincerely, 

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