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: Mrs Maria <mrsmariaooo29@msn.com>
Reply-To: mrs_maria@yahoo.cn
Date: Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:58:26 +0100
Subject: Dear Friend,

Dear Friend,
My name is Mrs maria From Burkina Faso.
I am writing in respect of my inheritance fund, it may be a surprise to you by receiving this letter to day. I am the wife of late gadafi president of Libya, after the death of my late husband, The first lady and her children drove me out of my husband house with my only daughter they cease all that my late husband left behind for us in Libya is do to the fart that I am not from the same country with them I am a citizen of Burkina Faso. But now I am here in my country Ouagadougou. my private email ID mrs_maria@yahoo.cn
And they did not know that my late husband have an account in one of the bank here in Burkina Faso. The problem I am having right now is duel to the Africa culture that a female doesn't have Wright to inherit any thing from his father accept the male child. My husband deposited the some of thirty million united state dollars ($15,000,000.00) I want you to help me to claim these funds because I am in a very bad condition now. I have already gone to the bank to claim this fund but the official in charge told me that if I want to claim this fund I most used the account of a foreigner and also does the change of owner ship into the name of the beneficiary the certificate of deposit is with me.
If you are really ready to assist me with my daughter to claim this fund from the bank and I will give you 40% of the thirty million immediately the fund is transferred into your bank account and you will lead me in establishment with the 60% in your country. I want you to keep this secret confidential and assured me that I do not trust my life into a rung hand. You should forward to me all your personal information's as soon you receive this mail
Thanks
Mrs maria
 
 

Anti-fraud resources: