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: "Mr. James Smith" <brianoffice3027@att.net>
Reply-To: jamessmith60@live.com
Date: Tue, 22 Feb 2011 05:04:55 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Dear valued beneficiary,




Dear valued beneficiary, It might interest you to know that you have benefited a GOLD ATM MASTER CARD valued 2,500,000.00 from the United States of American new government led by President Barack Obama for the 2011 American Government ongoing compensation and empowerment program as a result of the recent world economic and financial crisis?Furthermore, this compensation warrants you to immediately reconfirm the details below for approval and onward delivery of your GOLD ATM MASTER CARD inheritance without delay. First Name:
Last Name:
Sex:
Age:
Occupation:
Permanent Home Address:
Current Telephone Number:
Copy of International Passport/Driver s License no: Forward all your details to my private email for instant release of your funds  :
Mr. James Smith
Email: jamessmith60@live.com Thank you,
Bank Security Alert.

Anti-fraud resources: