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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

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

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Larry John" <spaggiari.dem@alice.it>
Reply-To: wstern_u@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 26 Jun 2013 12:44:11 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: your first transfer mtcn #9865871241

My work partner has helped me to send the first $5000.00 to you through
Western
Union Money Transfer. Contact Mr. Larry John, and ask him how much charge
you need to remit to them before they can allow you pick up the first $5000.
Contact: Mr. Maxwell Williams Telephone: +229-68863536 Email:
(wstern_u@yahoo.com) (MTCN)# 9865871241,for the first transfer he made to
you, Ask him to give you the Sender's Full Name, to pick the $5000,Your total
sum is $2.8MILLION. Send to him your, Full Name, State, City, Yours
Sincerely.
Best Regards,
Mr.Anthony William

Anti-fraud resources: