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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: Mr.John Gyasi <gyasij86@msn.com>
Reply-To: <johnngyasi@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:32:58 +0000
Subject: Confidential Request



Dear Sir,
My name is Mr.John Gyasi and I am contacting you concerning the sum of US$6,500,000.00 deposited with our bank by late Dr. Alexander , a nationality of your country who shares the same last name with you and since his death no one has come for the claim of the funds.
Our head office has given me 21 working days to provide next of kin to the deceased so that the fund can be transferred to him/her and if within the 21 days the next of kin is not provided, the fund shall be confiscated.
Prior to that, I am contacting you to know if it will interest you to stand as the next of kin of the deceased to enable bank approve the release of the funds to you since you shares the surnames with that of the deceased.
If interested, kindly get back to me for more details.
Regards,Mr.John Gyasi


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