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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: lillianbrown60@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 6 Jun 2011 09:59:39 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: PLEASE GET BACK TO ME IMMEDIATELY.





Dearest Beloved Friend,
 
Please i will like you to read this mail with understanding, As you read this, I don't want you to feel sorry for me, because, I believe everyone will die someday.
I am Mrs. Lillian Spagnolo, I am 66 years old, From Solomon Islands, and I am suffering from a long time cancer of the breast. From all indication my condition is really deteriorating, and my doctors have courageously advised me that I may not live beyond the next two months; this is because the cancer stage has reached a critical stage.
I was married to late Dr. Robert Spagnolo, a contractor with UNITED NATIONS in Burkina Faso, West Africa, where we live all our Lives for Thirty-two years before he died in the year 2004.But is quite unfortunately, He died after a Cardiac Arteries Operation that lasted only for four days.
Since his death I decided not to re-marry, I sold all my inherited belongings and deposited all the sum of $6.2million dollars with a Bank in Ouagadougou - Burkina Faso, West Africa where we spend our life together with United Nations as contractor.
 
Presently, this money is still in their custody, and the management just wrote me as the Legitimate beneficiary to come forward to receive the money after keeping it for so long or rather issue a letter of authorization to somebody to receive it on my behalf since I cannot come over as a result of my illness, or they get it confiscated.
 
Presently, I'm with my laptop in a hospital where I have been undergoing treatment. I have since lost my ability to do anything myself and my doctors have told me that I have only a few months to live.
 
It is my last wish to see that this money is invested in any organization of your choice and distributed each year among the charity organization, the poor and the motherless baby's home where I come from.
 
I want your good humanitarian, to also use this money to fund churches, orphanages and widows around. I must let you know that this was a very hard decision, but I had to take a bold step towards this issue because I have no further option. I hope you will help see my last wishes come true.
 
As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the Bank. I will also issue you a letter of authority which will prove that you are the new beneficiary of my funds, and the documents concerning the deposit. Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated herein. Hope to hear from you soonest. I am waiting your response.
 
Yours Sick Sister in Christ,
Mrs. Lillian Spagnolo.

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