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: "Mrs. Stead Terry" <mrs.cladan10@msn.com>
Date: Sat, 15 Dec 2012 05:07:42 +0000
Subject: Can i trust you ?




My name is Mrs. Stead Terry, I am 57 years old and I have been diagnosed for Rectal cancer for past 2 years now.I have been touched by GOD to use the fund I inherited from my late husband for a humanitarian investment (Charity). My late husband was a very wealthy businessman unfortunately he died on May 26/ 2010.My husband’s relatives are now fighting seriously to take away every asset I inherited from my late husband.Our matter is now in Law court and the court has decided that my entire properties including my personal bank accounts should be suspended until they decide the matter.

Now that God has called
me, I have willed and given most of my property and assets to my
immediate and extended family members as well as few close friends. I
want God to be merciful to me and accept my soul, I have decided to give
aims to charity organizations, as I want this to be one of the last
good deeds I do on earth. Now that my health has deteriorated so badly, I
cannot do this myself anymore. I once asked members of my family also
my friends to close one of my accounts and distribute the money which I
have there to charity organization in Bulgaria and Pakistan, they
refused and kept the money to themselves.

Henceforth, I do not
trust them anymore, as they seem not to be contended with what I have
left for them, such is life. The last of my money which no one knows of
is the huge cash deposit of Nine Million Pounds (£9,000,000,00) I would
want you to help me, collect this deposit and dispatch it to charity
organizations. Kindly note that 35% of this funds must go to the Haiti
earthquake/ Flood victims,45% to other Charity Organization and 20% for
your effort and time.I am using my Laptop Computer to communicate with
you from the hospital. You should respond back to me if you are
interested in carrying out this
assignment on my behalf. For Safety,confidential and further details please reply me (mrs.steadterry@live.com)
God be with you.
Mrs. Stead Terry.

Anti-fraud resources: