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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: "John Goldsmith" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <johngoldsmith786@yahoo.com.ph>
Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2012 12:27:05 -0800
Subject: ATTENTION: Bonafide beneficiary

Greetings From John Goldsmith
 
ATTENTION: Bonafide beneficiary
 
I want to inform you that your fund was brought to my desk because the director of the
WESTERN UNION MONEY transfer said that they should divert your fund to the government
treasury account just because you can not pay the transfer fee, As result of the information
we got I told them to wait until i hear from you today so that I will know the reason you rejected
the USD2.5 million which is your overdue inheritance payment just because of transfer fee.
 
But the reason why I send you this email now is that you still have the chance to claim your fund
if you could send this USD98 today because i have already make an arrangement with courier
company which will deliver your fund to you within 2days but failing to do this, they will have power
over your fund and am very sorry if you failed as this is the last chance.
 
Please here is the western union information in the name of my messenger to avoid more delay in
receiving your fund and remember that I have done my best for you and I will make sure that your
fund get to your hand on Wednesday.
 
Receivers Name:...Sunday Nneli
Country:... Benin-Republic
City address is Cotonou
Test Question:.. IN GOD
Answer:.. WE TRUST
Amount: ...USD98.00
Senders name and address
MTCN NUMBER....
 
Send it to me for easy collection on my email (johngoldsmith328@yahoo.com.ph) the MTCN control
number, amount sent, name and address of sender
 
Thanks
John Goldsmith

Anti-fraud resources: