joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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: Esther Cole <estherco12@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 8 Aug 2012 08:58:40 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: From Mrs Esther

From Mrs Esther

I
am Mrs. Esther Cole from Solomon Islands. I am married to Mr. Philip
Cole who worked with our Embassy in Ivory Coast for nine years before
he died .We were married for eleven years without a child. He died
after a brief illness that lasted for only four days.

Before his
death we were both born again Christian. Since his death I decided not
to remarry or get a child outside my matrimonial home. When my late
husband was alive he deposited the sum of $6,750.000.00 million united
State dollars in a Bank here. Now, I want you to do me a favor to
receive this fund there in your country or any safer place. Base on my
health condition, my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next
Eight months due to cancer problem. Having known my condition I decided
to donate this fund to a church, organization or good person that will
utilize this money the way I am going to instruct herein.

I
want a church, organization or good person that will use this fund for
orphanages, widows and other peoples that needs help and also
propagating the word of God and to endeavor that the house of God is
being maintained.

I took this decision because I don't have any
child that will inherit this money and my husband relatives are not
Christians not even good at all because they are the one that are
responsible for the death of my husband in other to have all my late
husband properties and I don't want my husband's efforts to be used by
those that conspired for his death.

This is why I am taking this
decision, I am not afraid of death hence I know where I am going. I
don't need any telephone communication regarding this because of my
health hence the presence of my husband's relatives around me always. I
don't want them to know about this development and l knows that With
God all things are possible.

As
soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the Bank.
I will also issue a letter of authorization to the Bank that will prove
you the present beneficiary of this money. I also want you, church or
organization to always pray for me because the lord is my only shepherd.

Whoever
that wants to serve the Lord must serve him in spirit and Truth.
(Matthew 10:32-33). Knowing that naked we come and naked we must go"
Please always be prayerful all through your life. Please any delay in
your reply will give me room in sourcing another good person, church,
organization for this same purpose.

Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I Stated herein. Hoping to receive your response immediately.

Thanks and Remain blessed in the Lord.
I remain yours sister in Christ.

Mrs. Esther Cole

Anti-fraud resources: