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: "James Allen" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mysteryoffice201@aol.com>
Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2011 17:31:36 -0800
Subject: Personal Assistant position

Hello ,

I am regarding you as regards to the Personal Assistant position. I would love

to meet up with you to talk about this job but I am currently away on a business

trip but there is a test which i will like you to go through because i need a
capable Personal Assistant.I am in Ireland so there will be no interview except
for the form you will fill below.

1.Have you ever been a Personal Assistant ?




2.If you have been a Personal Assistant before,how long and was it for a company

or an individual?

3.Can you communicate effective and efficiently?

4.Do you have a job as at now?

5.Will you be able to run errands 2 hours per day for and will be needed 3 days
per week?


I will prepay you in advance to do my shopping. I will also have my mails and
packages forwarded to your address. If you will be unable to stay at your house
to get my mails, I can have it shipped to a post office near you and then you
can pick it up at your convenience.When you get my mails/packages; you are
required to mail them to where I want them mailed to. You don't have to put
money out of you pocket, all you have to do is have packages shipped to your
house and do my shopping.

You are allowed to open the packages to reveal its content. The content of the
packages are computer and electronics, clothing's business and personal letters.

All expenses and taxes will be covered by me. You will work between 15 and 20
hrs a month. I will pay $300 per week.I need your service because I am
constantly out of town on business as I own a electronics and clothing store in
Ireland but want to open another store in US.I will return to USA in MARCH
this process will be on going till then. If you don't mind, I will meet up with
you when I return and then we can talk about the possibility of making this long

term. Well, let me know if you are able to handle the position.

I will email you the list and pictures of what to shop for when I am ready. No
heavy packages are involved! You can do the shopping at any nearest stores. You
will be shopping for Electronics and clothing's. I will provide you my personal
UPS account number for Shipping. All you have to do is provide my account number

to UPS and shipping charges will be applied into the account. I will provide
clear set of instructions for each task I need done as well the funds to cover
them.

If I were to mail you money to do my shopping plus up front payment for your
service, where would you want it mailed to? Your full info for check,money
orders or cash payment:

Full Name:
Full Address:
(NO P.O.BOX)
City:
State:
Zip Code:
Phone Number:(Cell):
Home:
Age:
Email:
Present Job:
Attach a Photo of you:

The address of the nearest Post Office to you for receiving packages:

Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Post Code:

Will be expecting to hear from you soon to let me know if you will be willing to

handle my business on my behalf before I return.Note that this job is 100%
legitimate.You can open all packages to confirm how legit they are.Thanks so
much and have a nice day.

Regards,


James Allen

Anti-fraud resources: