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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Lance Charles Sr." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <lancecharlesssr@yahoo.com.my>
Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2013 20:34:44 -0500
Subject: Baggage Unit Hartsfield Airport (GA)

Hi,

I am Lance Charles Sr, head of Baggage Storage Unit North Air Cargo Complex at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport Atlanta Georgia. I have contacted you concerning an abandoned diplomatic baggage which I discovered in our storage house and the x-ray scan report box revealed some US dollar bill in it which could be approximately two million dollars. The baggage was abandoned by a diplomat from Iraq who was on transit to your city due to his inability to pay the diplomatic baggage non-inspection fee of two thousand and three hundred dollars and the official paper of the baggage indicates your name, your address and your email address.


For me to confirm you as the recipient, you are to email me your full names, your full address, your telephone number and the nearest airport close to you to cross-check if it corresponds with the details on the official document. All communication must be held extremely confidential because I have taken it upon myself to contact you personally about this abandoned baggage so that we can transact it as a deal since it has not yet been returned to the United States Treasury Department as unclaimed delivery. Once I confirm you as the recipient,I will pay the non-inspection fee of two thousand and three hundred dollars and arrange for the baggage to be delivered to your door-step or I can bring it myself to ensure a successful delivery but you have to assure me of 20% of the total money in the baggage.

Please note that the only official payment to be made by you is a refundable fee of 280dollars which is for the Proof of Beneficiary receipt so that I can be able to act on your behalf and pay the 2,300dollars for the non-inspection fee. I can get everything concluded within 2days upon your acceptance and proceed to your address for delivery. Do send the required details to my private email address (lancecharlessr@yahoo.com.my).


Regards,

Lance Charles

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