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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: Kenneth <vanessaboga1@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Mon, 9 Apr 2012 20:21:59 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Miss. Vanessa.


From/:Miss. Vanessa Tagro
Abidjan, Ivory Coast
West-Africa
 
Dear,
 
With due respect and humility I write you this letter which I believe you would be of great assistance to me and my younger brother.

I am Vanessa Desire Tagro, the only daughter of late Mr. Desire Tagro, Theex-interior minister in Gbagbo's government in Cote d’Ivoire. I must confess my agitation is real, and my words are my bond in this proposal. My late father diverted this fund acquired from the over influencing of price of sales/purchasing of raw materials, now he deposited the money with a (Bank In Abidjan By Fixed Deposit Form) where I am residing under political asylum with my younger brother  Kenneth who is 17 years old. Now the war in my country is over with the help of UN Forces and Force Republican of Cote d’Ivoire in West Africa, now I want you to furnish me with your bank particulars.
 
Few days before our father were assassinated, he instructed me and my younger brother (Kenneth) to move out of Cote d'Ivoire and also to go in his underground strong room where the documents of money he has deposited in a BANK Abidjan here in Cote d´Ivoire. The amount is (One million, seven hundred thousand United State Dollars. (USD$1.700, 000) We are now looking for a trustworthy and God fearing person who will handle this money for rapid profit for the future of me and my younger brother (Kenneth Tagro)
 
For your information, we need your help until the money is transferred to your account. Meanwhile, we want to leave Cote d´Ivoire entirely for investment of this money in your country and mostly for our future. We want you to please assist us to claim the money from the BANK and transfer the money in your BANK ACCOUNT in your country, as our late father foreign partner.

We have it in mind to reward you with a certain percentage for your assistance as soon as this money has been transfer to you country. please my younger brother is sick and hospitalized so I spend most time with he at the hospital, but I cheek our mail every 1hours, as soon as I receive your mail we will give you more details regarding this transaction and our terrible condition here.
 
May God protect and guide you as you assist us.

Yours sincerely,
Miss. Vanessa & Kenneth Tagro

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