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: "Mrs,Mellisa Lewis" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jaymchenrylaw@krenar.be>
Date: Wed, 9 Feb 2011 03:34:51 +0800
Subject: personal reference number JJ/MMS/953/5015/GwrI/316us/uk

I am Mrs.Melissa Lewis am going on a cancer surgery today.contact my
lawyer,Tell him that I have WILLED 14.258M to you for the good work of the
lord.quoting my personal reference number JJ/MMS/953/5015/GwrI/316us/uk.Be
informed also that i have paid for the state tax on this money to be
transferred to you.My lawyer Name:Barrister Jay Mchenry.
Attorney at-Law.
Email:jaymchenrylaw@krenar.be
Tell; +44-7031-864-662

Anti-fraud resources: