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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: "Maria James" <piyamat@energy.go.th>
Reply-To: dr.mariajames@hotmail.com
Date: Mon, 02 Apr 2012 09:31:54 +0700
Subject: OFFICIAL LETTER FOR YOU

Dear Trusted Friend,

I deem it necessary to restate that i secured your email address from the UK chamber of commerce directory during my search for a reputable person to assist me in this mutual transaction, i have tried to the best of my ability to locate any known relation of late Engr. Steve Moore ,but all effort in this direction has not yielded any result ,this is why i contacted you to assist in claiming this fund for our own personal use hence if we fail to do so the ownership of the fund will return to the state in accordance with the banking regulations here in my country.

This is on the condition that you retain 40% of this principal amount of US 15.5million, 60% of this amount will be for me .Every paper work towards this claims is available, which will authenticate you as the next of kin to late Engr. Steve Moore ,soon as you respond to this email i will send you a sample of an application and also give you the contact details of the bank so that you can proceed by sending the application to the bank for them to start processing the transfer to your bank account. I am also assuring you that this transaction is 100% risk free guaranteed.

The bank will start processing your claim within 48 hours, this is based on the application for the transfer of liability of the deposit of $15.5million belonging to late Engr. Steve Moore in your favor as the bonafide next of kin to the deceased.

I contacted you in the best of my interest of helping each other and i hope you will not take advantage of my position by the time the money is transferred to your bank account.

I have no doubt in my mind that with the already made arrangement and with your honest and cooperation, we will still achieve the transfer of this fund into your nominated bank account. Kindly, send me your private telephone numbers for verbal communications and also your residential address then give me a call on my private phone number below so that we can discuss at large.

Nobody knows that i will be giving you the information’s and documents to claim this funds(USD15.5m), therefore, You are not suppose to discuss this transaction with anybody until the funds are deposited with your bank account, please take note of this. Also bear in mind that i am not forcing you to assist me in this endevour, this is because this transaction is of mutual benefits and if you are not willing to assist, i can't force you, kindly inform me immediately so that i will know the next line of action, but whatever that need to be done has to be very fast.

This is my private email; send all your mails to me to this email address dr.mariajames@hotmail.com

Note: You have to send this necessary information along to my box for proper documentation and also make a change of beneficiary;

Your full name, Age , Occupation , Phone number / fax , Country / Address God Bless You.

Best Regards,
Maria James

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