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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 Leticia" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <leticia_sheik@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 5 Jul 2012 10:06:26 -0700
Subject: MY DONATION FOR NEEDY!!

Dear Beloved Friend,
Greetings in the name of Lord Jesus Christ, I am Mrs. Leticia King Sheik,A widow to late Alhaji King Sheik {PhD} who worked with MULTINATIONAL OIL COMPANY EXXON AS A DRILLING RIG SUPPLIER in Kuwait for 25 years before he died on the 31st July 2008.I am a new Christian convert suffering from long time cancer of the breast. Recently, my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next six months due to cancer problem, I am presently in a Hospital in London taken my treatment. I inherited all my late husband's business and wealth after his death because during the period of our marriage we couldn't produce any child, and now I have decided to divide this wealth to churches in Africa, America, Asia and Europe in order to help the needy.
I selected you to be the beneficiary to this fund after going through the internet, and I have prayed over this selection. And now I am willing to donate the sum of $10 million to you to start my Dream Project for the less privileged since I cannot handle the Project due to my poor health condition.
This donation of $10 million is in presently in a USA Bank, so upon your reply I will instruct the Diplomat in charge, Mr. Christian B. William of the Texas Bank, to open a Bank Account on your behalf.
So please confirm these items as below if you are interested in this my Dream Project:
1, Your full name
2, Your contact address
3, Your telephone
Note that until this Donation of $10 million is delivered to you, I will strongly insist that this transaction most be keep a top secret as I wait for your kind reply through this email: (leticiasheik@yahoo.com)
God bless you and your family.
Mrs. Leticia King Sheik,

Anti-fraud resources: