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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.Edward Alan." <grhimdub@gmail.com>
Reply-To: fwiffiirt@sify.com
Date: Wed, 4 Sep 2013 16:05:52 +0100
Subject: Letter of intent

>From Mr. Edward Alan

Dear Esteemed Colleague,

I hope this email find you in good health. In view of my
correspondence with you, I unassumingly solicit for your utmost
consideration, as this letter serves as my formal notice of my intent
to go into investment partnership with you in your country.

My name is Mr. Edward Alan, a retired investment consultant with a
Bank U.K at their offshore department.

In my position as a director of audit I discovered the sun of
USD$18,000,000 stolen from unknown country by a corrupt pass head of
state and was improperly deposited under a pen name without trace of
ownership.

We have used all possible means to search for the depositor of the
fund but were unable to the trace the person, it is obvious that
depositor may be late.

At moment I have deposited the fund with a Security company, now I
want a trust worthy person that can receive the money for safe keeping
for investment money outside London.

In an open minded manner, I purposefully contact you to negotiate my
proposition for investment in real estate or stock market, if you are
willingly accept my proffer I shall provide you with the relevant
details for the investment and procedures in sequence.

Furthermore, I want every of my dealings with you to be carried out
legally, genuinely and transparent.

Looking forward to hearing from you and to establish a joint
cooperation with long term credible business relation.

I will need your contact details.

YOUR FULL NAME.................................................................

OCCUPATION.....................................................................

YOUR DIRECT PHONE AND
MOBILE.........................................................................

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN..............................................................
Thanks and God bless you.

Best regards,
Mr. Edward Alan

Anti-fraud resources: