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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: "ISSAH MOHAMMED" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <issahmed@live.com>
Date: Sat, 12 Nov 2011 17:22:07 -0800
Subject: Re: Get back to me today

Hello,
 
Compliments of the day! Please I will appreciate it if you should avail yourself of this opportunity, but first of all I must inform you of whom I am and appeal that this information should be kept very confidential.
 
I am Mr. Issah Mohammed a senior executive with an Int'l Aid organization. I have a business proposal that i wish to entrust into your care that worth USD$11 Million Dollars.
 
If i can be assured that you work this out with me and also treat this issue with every bit of confidentiality putting my integrity foremost, i will provide you with the full details of what this is all about and how we can work it out.
 
Regards,
 
Mr. Issah Mohammed
<issahmed@live.com>

Anti-fraud resources: