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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: "Mrs Amanda Zanab" (may be fake)
Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2012 14:06:48 +0200
Subject: May God Bless You

Greetings,

My name is Mrs. Amanda Zanab, widow to late Mr. Ahmed Zanab former owner of Al Arabiya Petroleum and Gas company, here in Libya . I am 71years old, suffering from long time cancer of the breast. From all indications my condition is really deteriorating and it's quite obvious that I won't live more than 2 months according to my doctors. This is because the cancer stage has gotten to a very bad stage. I don’t want your pity but I need your trust.
My late husband died early last month , and during the period of our marriage we couldn't produce any child. My late husband was very wealthy and after his death, I inherited all his business and wealth. The doctor has advised me that I will not live for more than 2 months so I have now decided to spread all my wealth to contribute mainly to the development of charity in Africa, America , Asia and Europe .I am sorry if you are embarrassed by my mail. I found your profile on your countries mailing list and decided to contact you. If for any reason you find this mail offensive, you can ignore it and please accept my apology.
Before my late husband died he was a major oil tycoon, in Kuwait and deposited the sum of $43.000,000,00 million dollars (Forty Three million United states dollars) in a finance company some years ago, that’s all I have left now, having known my condition, I decided to establish communication in asking or need you to collect this funds and distribute it yourself to charities. so that when I die my soul can rest in peace. The funds will be entirely in your hands and management. I hope God gives you the wisdom to touch very many lives. That is my main concern.10% of this money will be for your time and effort and 4% will be for any miscellaneous expenses that may occur, if any; during the process of transferring the fund while 86% goes to charity like I have stated.
Please kindly get back to me if you will assist me or not in carrying out the good work of God.
Thanks as I wait your urgent response,
Kindly send an email to me through my private email address:amandazanab@gmail.com

Mrs Amanda Zanab

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