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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: "John Williams" (may be fake)
Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2012 02:59:35 -0700
Subject: Business Proposal.

DEAR SIR,

GOOD DAY TO YOU OVER THERE, HOW IS YOUR FAMILY TOGETHER WITH YOUR BUSINESS.

I JUST WANT TO INFORM YOU THAT I HAVE A COUSIN WHO IS INTERESTED TO INVEST INTO A PROPERTY BUSINESS OR ANY PROFITABLE BUSINESS IN YOUR CITY IN INDIA THAT IS WHY I AM CONTACTING YOU HOW THE INVESTMENTS CAN BE DONE THERE.

HE IS FROM POLITICAL FAMILY AND HE IS INTERESTED TO INVEST IN A GOOD PROFITABLE BUSINESS THERE IN INDIA, AND THAT IS WHY I AM CONTACTING YOU IF YOU WILL BE READY TO BE HIS PARTNER THERE IN INDIA AND THE BUSINESS CAN BE DONE TOGETHER WITH YOU. AFTER YOU TELL ME YOUR INTEREST I CAN DISCUSS WITH MY COUSIN IN UK THIS MATTER SO THAT HE WILL PLAN TO COME DOWN TO INDIA , BEFORE ANY THING TAKE PLACE, I WILL LIKE TO MEET YOU FACE TO FACE, SO THAT I WILL BE ABLE TO KNOW YOU BETTER AND HAVE A GOOD DISCUSSION ON THE BUSINESS

HE IS LOOKING FOR HOW TO INVEST IN INDIA,THIS MONEY BELONG TO HIS LATE FATHER WHICH THEY MAKE FROM POLITICS WHEN HE WAS A POLITICIAN IN SOUTH AFRICA AND THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF MONEY IS 10 MILLION US DOLLAR AND ALSO IS A BLACK MONEY.

SO IN YOUR REPLY, I WILL LIKE TO KNOW MAY BE YOU WISH TO BE HIS PARTNER THERE IN INDIA AND ALSO THE DETAIL OF BUSINESS PROPOSAL ON WHAT THE BUSINESS CAN BE ESTABLISHED INTO, YOUR DETAILS PLAN, AND ALSO YOUR PERSONAL AND COMPANY PROFILE.

I WILL BE EXPECTING YOUR REPLY

YOURS FAITHFULLY,
JOHN WILLIAM.

Anti-fraud resources: