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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: "Johnson Smith" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <fundoffice@yahoo.cn>
Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2012 18:00:51 -0500
Subject: Re: I Requesting your Emergency Assistance in Transfer of

Dear Sir/madam
 
 
Re: I Requesting your Emergency Assistance in Transfer of
US$35,000,000.00 (Thirty Five million United States dollars)
 
 
I work with a security and finance outfit. I got your contact during my
search for a Reliable,Strong Minded and a Trustworthy Person to entrust
this huge transfer claim project. I am a Ghanaian married with two kids,
although I am not comfortable to send this proposal to you because of
increase in scam and
fraud globally especially in Africa, but be assured that this is NO scam.
 
 
I know you may have heard the headlines of international medias/news
concerning the death of Libya leader, Col.Muammar Gaddafi who died in
the hands of his countrymen on Thursday 20t October 2011 due to the
political crises. I have contacted you to participate in this deal to
stand claim of this huge fund deposited with my Financial Institution by
the Ex-Libyan leader Col. Muammar Gaddafi.He made this huge fund deposit
of US$35,000,000.00 (Thirty Five million United States dollars) with my
Financial Institution when he visited my country Ghana in 2007 during
the 9th African Union (AU) Summit held in Accra, Ghana on the 25th June ?
6th July 2007.
 
 
He made this deposit secretly through his son and only confided in me as
the Foreign Relations Affair Manager and warned me that no body should
know about the fund deposit. The deposit has no beneficiary or next of
kin. Col. Muammar Gaddafi did not declare any next of kin in his
official papers including the paper work of his fund deposit, and my
investigation so far proved to me as well that my financial institution
does not know anything about the fund depositor?s beneficiary.
 
 
This is where you play a part in this fund claim process you can read
more
about the Col. Muammar Gaddafi?s death on the links below;
 
 
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-15389550
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44971257/ns/world_news-mideast_n_africa/
http://news.yahoo.com/gaddafis-final-run-end-colonels-long-weird-ride-
155604599. html
 
 
Now that the depositor Col. Muammar Gaddafi is dead and there is no
beneficiaryor next of kin indicated in his official papers, as well his
country will definitely confiscate all his known access and my Financial
Institution will also confiscate his fund if no immediate beneficiary
claim is made, this is why I have summoned up courage to contact you so
you can file in claim as the beneficiary while i back you up with my
immunity powers to facilitate the fund released to you as soon as
possible. I intend to part 40% of this total fund to you while 50% for
me and 10% be put aside for any incurred expenses during this claim
process. Should you be capable to handle this deal and to work with me,
I will appreciate your timely response for more information. For
security reasons, send your response to this email.
 
With warm regards,
Johnson Smith
 

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