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: "ELIZABETH GODSWELL" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <elizabetherwell@msn.com>
Date: Sat, 22 Dec 2012 06:35:36 -0800
Subject: GOOD MORNING

Good Morning dear FRIEND, Dont be surprised to receive this mail, I give you trust
by contacting you for partnership in mutual benefits, My name is Mrs.
Elizabeth Godswell, wife of Mr. Kenneth Godswell ,the owner of (GODSWELL
TOBACCO FARM IN ZIMBABWE ), my husband was murdered in Zimbabwe during
veterans and critic black people of  ZANU-PF ruling party, I believe you  heard about ZIMBABWE problem on CNN news ,BBC news.
 
Before the death of my husband, he was rich and a prosperous tobacco and coffee farmer who invested much in Agriculture sector and
supports the orphanage organizations.
 
I acknowledge very well before the problem wanted to arise my husband secretly transfer all his money to  South - Africa, Amount total is US$17.7(SEVENTEEN MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) , where he  want to use it to purchase new farm machinery ,chemical, fertilizers for Agricultural purpose and to purchasing hectares of land in Botswana.
 
With the high risk of staying in my country IN ZIMBABWE we are now on political asylum.(Refugee) here in Johannesburg South - Africa , my position does not permit me to open an
account or to normalize this fund to any meaningful business transaction, I want you to understand this is purely and clean family fund not money
laundering affair or Government money No.
 
I solicit for your honest assistance I want this fund transferred in your nominated Bank accounts, I will like you to invest the money in your company,
Country or any City of your choice in another place there No any problem, its legal.
 
I expect your email reply as soon as possible.
 
Thanks and God Bless you,
Yours Truly
MRS ELIZABETH GODSWELL.
my Alternative Email: burdy002@superposta.com

Anti-fraud resources: