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: "INTERNET PROGRAMS®" <hr@mail.yamoffice.yam.com>
Reply-To: <melvincole@9.cn>
Date: Mon, 24 Oct 2011 01:28:43 -0400
Subject: Attention: Prominent User Of The Internet

Attention: Prominent User Of The Internet.
 
 
How are you today? Hope all is well with you and your family?
 
 
I hope this mail meets you in a perfect condition.
 
 
You have been confirmed and approved as one of our lucky winner.
 
 
This is from  a total cash  prize of $80,000,000.00 (Eighty Million United States dollars), given to the first ONE HUNDRED (100) people who will be compensated in this world internet programs.
 
 
All participants were  selected randomly from World Wide Web site Through computer draw system and  extracted from over 700.000 companies.
 
 
I am using this opportunity to thank you for using the internet daily.
 
 
Due to your effort, using internet programs indoor and in your office,We want to compensate you and show our gratitude to you with the sum of $800,000 (EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS).
 
 
we have  authorized Mr Melvin Cole to assist your in getting your
compensation check across to you.
 
 
The name and contact address of the Mr Melvin Cole is as follows;
COMPENSATION HEAD OFFICE
CONTACT AGENT: Mr Melvin Cole
EMAIL: melvincole@9.cn
 
 
Finally remember that I have forwarded instruction to  Mr Melvin Cole on your behalf to send the cash prize of $800,000(EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) to you as soon as you contact him without delay, Meanwhy you will be responsible for the delivery fee only
 
 
 
Mr.Doanld Hans
Lottery Co-coordinator. © 2011 WORLD
INTERNET PROGRAMS®
 
 

Anti-fraud resources: