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 Roselle S" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrsrosellestearns@rocketmail.com>
Date: Sun, 17 Feb 2013 07:56:44 -0300
Subject: I need your reply please

Hello My Dear My Name is Mrs Roselle Stearnsi am 77 years old from Germany and a wife to the late Mr Allan Stearns who was from California in USA,I am presently in Germany receiving treatments for my long time cancer of the breast.The intention of this letter is to seek for your attention and help in-respect of my funds lying in a security company in USA after my doctors told me that my sickness has got to a stage where it can no longer make me breath this is as a result of the fact that my cancer was not treated in time and has gotten to a very bad stage where it can no longer be treated to the extent of keeping me alive. My loving husband left me the time i need him most in a car crash accident and indeed we were very wealthy and nurtured a good christian home though we did not have children we didn't blame each other for that because it is the way nature wants it,i inherited all my late husband's wealth and business and before time crucial time of my sickness i have been trusting people who careless about
The said amount with the security company is (Twenty million eight hundred and fifty thousand dollars) and i want you to apply on my behalf to security company for the immediate release of this funds to you at my own expenditure without having you spend any money.
I beg of you to help me complete my heart desires but if you can't do this for me i will understand and accept my faith or probably have the security company confiscate the funds as i can't trust people around me who are inconsiderate but it will be very painful after reading this message and you decide not to help a poor widow carry out her last wish on earth.
My Dear if my story touches you,please reply me and i will email you the details of the firm where the funds are so you can contact for the release of the funds to you.reply to my private email mrsrosellestearns@rocketmail.com
Remain Blessed
Mrs Roselle Stearns

Anti-fraud resources: