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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: "John Fulton Wiley" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <johnfwilley11@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2013 09:23:24 -0500
Subject: PLS REPLY ME BACK

Hello Sir,
 
I am aware that this is not a safe way of establishing a relationship of trust but you have to bear with me because I have little options.
 
My name is John Fulton Wiley from Pennsylvania USA. A cancer patient. I have been in and out of hospitals in the USA without much luck, so I decided to fly to India on the advise of my Indian neighbor to receive some traditional Indian medication.
 
I contacted you after many thoughts. My condition is getting worse and I do not know what may happen to me any moment from now . I am seeking means of securing the future of my only child, Jeniffer Wiley who is just seven (7) years old. Hence the need to establish a business relationship with you so you can help secure release of my funds amounting to USD5.5Million. This fund has been in the custody of a security vault company in Spain since the year 2007. I am too sick and do not have enough money to secure release of this huge amount of money. I need your help desperately. I am willing to offer you 40% of the entire amount should you accept to help me. I have already informed the Security Vault company of my decision to appoint a partner to represent me and they have agreed to it.
 
You may be required by the company to visit them in spain and sign some release documents on my behalf. If you cannot travel to Spain, you can also secure release of the funds through an attorney appointed by the company on your behalf. I want to assure you that this is 100% risk free. The money belongs to me and I have documents to prove this.The security vault company will confirm this also.
 
I need great trust and sincerity from you because if anything happens to me, you shall take care of my 7 years old only daughter whom I shall also make a partner in my agreement with you.
 
Please respond quickly.
 
John Fulton Wiley II.
+1 760 462 1853

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