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: "MOTHER RITA SURTI" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <surti.rita2@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 7 Jun 2011 19:36:36 -0700
Subject: Hello

Hello"
 
I would appreciate your immediate response to support and help me to distributes my funds for motherless babies and sick people in your country.At 80's, I am now looking too weak and fragile to do things myself because I was diagnosed for cancer about 5years ago.
I was ministered to share my inheritance to charity and to save lives of innocent children who are suffering from all kinds of diseases (Kwashiorkor, Anemia, Malaria parasite, Measles, Night blindness, Yellow fever, Pneumonia, Cholera), horrible sickness. "He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, PROVERBS 19:17."
 
I have wholeheartedly trusted in your good honesty in the belief that you have a soul of discretion to support this vision. I maintained a life assurance policy funds which amounts to the sum of (three million pounds).I know I have never met you but my mind tells me in confident that you're a nice person and willing to respect my wishes.
 
Finally,to enable my lawyer notarization my Will in your name, I need your
urgent response today.
 
Love
Mother Rita Surti.

Anti-fraud resources: