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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: Sonia Richard <soniarichard7@hotmail.fr>
Reply-To: sonia_richard2007@yahoo.fr
Date: Sun, 11 Nov 2012 12:21:41 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Dearest one,


Dearest one,

I know it might be a surprise to receive a letter
like this from an unknown person, I contacted you after going through
your profile and my prayers over it.

My name is Miss Sonia
Richard the only daughter of late Mr.and Mrs. Francis Richard, my father
was a business man he ideals cocoa and timber based in Abidjan the
economic capital of Cote d'Ivoire he was very successful and wealthy. My
mother died when I was a baby and after the death of my mother, my dad
remarried to another woman but after 5 years of their marriage they were
officially divorced since then my father decided not to marry again and
he treated me so special as I am his only child.

My predicaments
started after the death of my father, he was poisoned to death by his
business associates on one of their outings on a business trip. Before
the death of my father in a private hospital here in Abidjan he told me
that he has the sum of two million five hundred thousand United State
Dollars. USD (US$2.5M) left in fixed / suspense account in a bank here
in Abidjan economical city of Cote d'Ivoire, that he used my name as his
only child for the next of Kin in depositing of the fund. He also
explained to me that it was because of his wealth that he was poisoned
and he told me that his brother/my uncle knows the source of his illness
that I should seek for someone overseas country where I will transfer
this money.

Dear, I am honourably seeking for your assistance in
the following ways: (1) to open a new bank account into which this money
will be transferred to. (2) To serve as a guardian of this fund since I
am only 20 years. (3) To make arrangement for me to come over to your
country to further my education and to secure a resident permit in your
country. Furtherance, input after the successful transfer of this fund
into your nominated account overseas. Please, kindly indicate your
options towards assisting me as I believe that this transaction would be
concluded within one week.
 
I am waiting to hear from you soon.

Thanks and remain bless,

Sonia.

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