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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. Ettina Desmond kofor" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <Desmondpages@ymail.com>
Date: Fri, 17 Sep 2010 10:47:10 +0200
Subject: Next of kin

Dear Friend,
I am widow and a mother of Two all girls and a Citizen of Mauritius a UK
citizen holder, married to a Ghanian. My late husband was a loving, caring
and hard working man a gold merchant who died in car accident. Before the sudden
death of my beloved husband, and father of my two daughters, he intended to
establish a business in the United States of America with the sum of
($13,320,000) million United States dollars, but unfortunately he died before
this proposed venture. Following his death, his family members insisted
that I am not entitled to his property (Assets and money) since I am a woman and my
offspring's are all girls, as I do not have a male child for my husband.
Well, according to some barbaric traditional laws here in Ghana (West Africa),
which doesn't permit a woman to inherit a man's property, as they are expected by
tradition to take over the management of his properties including myself who
automatically becomes a wife to one of his immediate brothers.
Unfortunately to these wicked family members, the ($13,320,000) million United States dollars that my late husband intended to use in establishing a business in the United
States was deposited in a finance and Secure bank whice i can not expose to
you now until i get to know you more. Though this is unknown to his family. I and my
late husband's Attorney is the only one aware of this money, so I have
discussed this matter with a staff of the company that I want this money
personally so that I will be able to take care of my children's educational
needs since my husband's family members vehemently opposed the furtherance
of their education. So I need you to help me take custody of this fund for
safe-keeping pending my arrival to your country because i am civil servant and
i am not entitle to handle such money here in Africa,so i want you to help me to
stand as the next of kin to my late husband hardearn money pending my arrival
to your country.
As soon as I get your positive response, I shall provide you with all the
necessary detail of this fund. However, I have decided to give you 25% of the
total money as a reward for your sincere assistance and the remaining 75% of
the money will be for my investment and up keeps for my two children. Any
expenses that you and I may incure during the process of this transaction
will also be reconciled afterwards. Let me have your confidential telephone,
fax and mobile numbers for easier communication. Please I await your response.
Email: Desmondpages@ymail.com
Mrs. Ettina Desmond kofor



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