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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: "Ms.Elizabeth Benson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <elizabethbenson262@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Tue, 4 Dec 2012 20:59:35 +0100
Subject: Ms.Elizabeth Benson

Ms.Elizabeth Benson
 
It's my pleasure to contact you for an assistance to invest my inheritance fund under your
care.
 
I am Ms. Elizabeth Benson, 19 years old. The only daughter of my late parents Mr/Mrs.David Benson,My father was a wealthy Coffee-Cocoa merchant based in Abidjan, the Economic Capital of Cote d' Ivoire (Ivory Coast).
It's sad to say my father passed away mysteriously during one of his business trips in (London UK ).Though his sudden death was suspected to have been masterminded by one of his business partners who travel with him, but only Almighty God can justify his death. My father's death lead to the death of my mother, because immediately she receive the news from the hospital that my father was poisoned she heard a hearts attack that later lead to her death.
Before the death of my father he called his secretary who accompanied him to a private hospital and told him that he has the sum of Eight Million seven hundred
thousand United State Dollars. (USD$8.700, 000:00) left with the Bank.
He further told me that he deposited the money in my name because I am his only child that I should seek for a foreign business partner that will help me receive and
invest this money in a better investment. I am 16 years old, still a student,
So I really don't know what to do. This is because I have suffered a lot of set backs as a result of the death of parents and incessant political crisis here in my country Cote d'Ivoire ( Ivory Coast ).The death of my parents actually brought sorrow to my life.
 
Dear, I am in sincere desire of your humble assistance in this regards. To help me receive this fund in your account, and invest it in a better and profit investment in your country,  you will also assist me to come over to your country to continue my education immediately the transfer is completed.I will be waiting for your urgent response.
Best Regards
Ms Elizabeth Benson,

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