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: "scd2000@cantv.net" <scd2000@cantv.net>
Date: Mon, 14 Jun 2010 13:46:00 -0430
Subject: From Ellen and Julien Aka.

 From Ellen and Julien Aka.
Abidjan,Ivory Coast

Dearest One,

I am writing this letter in confidence believing that if it is the wish of  almighty for you to help us,the almighty will bless and reward  you aboundantly and you would never regreat this. I am Ellen Aka and my sister is julien,from Sierra Leone, but now in Abidjan, Cote D'Ivoire.I and my sister are the children of late Engr.Felix  D.B. AKA, who was a contractor with the ministry of works and housing both in Sierra Leone and Cote D'ivoire before he died.

My father died some time ago after being involved in a motor accident. Before  my father died, my mother had earlier died as a result of Diabetes.Before  my father died in the hospital while taking treatment, he told me that there is Five million,Five hundred thousand united states dollars(US 5,500,000.00) he has in a bank here in Abidjan Cote D'Ivoire. And i am used as the next of kin.He even gave me the document to show that he really deposited the money in the bank.

When we went to the bank where my father deposited the money, they told me that actually my father deposited the money in the bank with me as the next of kin and for investment overseas.But they said from the agreement my father has with the bank, i can only claim the money when i am 25 years. And if i am not upto that age, i should  look for a foreigner who will help me in recieving the money and for investment purposes in his or her country.

In this regards, since i am not upto the required age to claim the money, i am contacting you for you to recieve the money  for investment and for me and my sister to come over there to start a renewed life there. Another reason is that my sister is now dieing in diabetes. So we will come over so that he will have better treatment.

Therefore please if you are willing to help us, you contact me today so that we will inform the bank and give you the contact of the bank. Also have it in mind that we will compensate you for assistance in recieving this money.

Yours faithfully.

Ellen and Julien Aka.

Anti-fraud resources: