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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: "Miss Helen Magama Zafara" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <helen00225@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 11 Sep 2013 23:05:41 +1000
Subject: From Miss Helen Magama Zafara

I am Miss Helen Magama Zafara and the only daughter of Mr Magama Zafara. He was the Chairman of Sierra Leone Diamond and Gold Mining Corporation. In the short lived Government of Major John Paul Koromah where he also served as the Finance Minister against the desires of Alhadji Tijan Kabbah the outset President (then in exile).
After seven months, Major John Koromah Military Government was outset by the combined forces of West African Countries (ECOMOG), and Alhadji Tijan Kabbah was reinstalled as civilian President . Upon his resumption, he ordered for the arrest and detention of my late father and six other men who served in various capacities in the short lived Government of military junta led by Major Paul Koromah.
 
They were charged for complicity in the coup that kept him out of power for seven months. After six months in military detention camp my late father was announced dead by the government special press release.Though, I do not know to what extent you are familiar with events and crisis in Sierra-Leone. However, during the disturbances and prior to my father death, he gave me a certificate meant for a secret deposit he made in a security company in Abidjan.
The deposit is worth  ($ 10 million USD) in cash, concealed and securely locked in one trunk box. The box was placed under privilege deposit and declared as containing Family valuable. Non of the security company officials is aware of the real content of the box. According to my Late father, part of the money was paid to the corporation by it's overseas customer in the heat of the crisis.
My father made the deposit and instructed the security company that his foreign partner will come for the claim  of the truck box ,on the strength of the above I fled to Abidjan, but I was advised that I should come with my late father foreign partner before they  can release the box to me.Right now i need your assistance urgently in moving this truck box  to your country, where the fund will be  properly secured under your care.
My problem now is to look for a reliable person who will assist me to make sure that this money is out of Cote d'Ivoire, i will give you other details immediately i see that you are ready to help me and my mother for the shipment of the box to your country for better investment of the money through your good advice.
I will give you other details immediately i see that you are ready to help me and my mother and i intend to give you 30% of this fund to you while 70% shall be for us.
 
Yours sincerely,
Miss Helen Magama Zafara

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