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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

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

Fraud email example:

From: Mariam Hensley <mariam.hensley@yahoo.com.ph>
Date: Sat, 17 Dec 2011 23:48:32 +0100
Subject: Thanks

Dearest,

It is with tears and pains that I am writing this mail from my sick bed in
a hospital in Accra Ghana. My name is Mrs. Mariam Hensley, widow to late
Mr. Mark Hensley, former owner of PETROLEUM AND GAS LOGISTICS LTD in Benin
Republic. I am 62 years old, suffering from cancer of the breast. From all
indications my condition is deteriorating and it's obvious that I won't
live more than 3 months according to doctors The tumors have deteriorated
into the critical stage.

I don't want you to pity me, but I need your trust. My late husband died in
December 2003 in a 2003 in a plane crash in russia. During the period of
our marriage we couldn't produce any child. My late husband was wealthy and
after his death, I inherited all his business and wealth. The doctor has
advised me that I will not live long, so I have now made up my mind to
spread my wealth to charity & mercy works in Africa, Asia, America and
Europe. Am sorry if you are embarrassed by my mail. I found your e-mail
address online by chance over a month ago. I prayed & prayed for God to
reveal to me if you could be relied upon to see to & administer to my last
will. The signs i experienced convinced me, and i have decided to contact
you. But if for any reason you find this mail offensive, you can ignore it
and please accept my apology.

My late husband was an Oil dealer. He had mineral rights all over Africa.
He left the sum of US$7, 000, 000, 00 Dollars only, which he packaged in a
mentality box with one security company in Ghana. I need your help to take
the funds, & distribute it to charity works & needy homes as i stated
above, so that when I die my soul will rest in peace knowing well that our
life endeavors is utilized for a good purpose rather than being
expropriated by the government (corrupt politicians) at my death as i do
not have any child that will inherit and positively utilize the money.

This funds and it's distribution will entirely be at your discretion and
control, and I pray God gives you the wisdom to touch very many lives with
my generosity (this is my main concern) 20% of this fund can be for you for
your time and effort, while 80% goes EXCLUSIVELY to charity.

Thanks and God bless you.
Mrs. Mariam Hensley.

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