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: "Sophia A. Ward" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sophiaward247@aol.com>
Date: Fri, 27 May 2011 23:54:12 +0100
Subject: My Last Wish Message Dated May 26 2011.

My Dear in Christ,
 
My name is REV MRS SOPHIA WARD, I have been doing Gods work for over 30yrs now, I AM ALSO THE
FOUNDER OF GRACE LIFE MINISTRIES (CHURCH); I am a dying woman who has decided to donate what I
have to you/church.
 
I am 59 years old and I was diagnosed for cancer for about 2 years ago immediately after the death of my
husband who has left me everything he worked for and because the doctors told me I will not live longer
than some weeks because of my health i decided to WILL/donate the sum of $10,200 000 ten million two
hundred thousand united  state dollars to you for the good work of humanity and also to help the
motherless and less privilege and also for the assistance of the widows.
 
I wish you all the best and may the good Lord bless you abundantly and please use the funds well and
always extend the good work to others.
 
It is very important you forward to me your information
 
Your full name
Contact address
Telephone numbers
Your age
Your occupation
 
All this to enable me issue you a letter of authorization and Power of Attorney  to you which you will
forward to the bank so that the fund will be transfer to your account.  As soon as I hear from  you
I will give you the contact information  of the bank account  officer, tell him that I have WILLED my
$10.200 000.00 to you and I have also notified him. I know I don't know you but I have been directed to
do this by god almighty.
Thanks and God bless.
 
NB: I will appreciate your utmost confidentiality in this matter until
the task is accomplished as I don't want anything that will jeopardize my last wish.
Kindly contact me through this email.
 
From Rev Mrs. Sophia Ward

Anti-fraud resources: