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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: Racheal James <racheal.james19@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 21 Nov 2013 17:00:38 -0500
Subject: Dearest in Christ,

Dearest in Christ,

Greetings to you, I am Mrs. Rachael James from United Kingdom.
I was married to Mr. Tom James who worked with a construction company
in Asia for twenty Years before he died in the disasters,
we were married but without Any children.

I am now suffering from long time breast Cancer and Cancer of the
lungs, from all indications my condition is really deteriorating and
it is quite obvious that i won't live more than 2 months according to
my doctor, this is because the cancer has gotten to a very bad
stage.Since Tom's death I decided not to re-marry. I deposited a
certain amount in a bank and now i am willing to donate this sum to
the less privileged and to contribute to development of churches in
Africa, America, Asia, and Europe.

My late husband was wealthy and after his death, I inherited
all his businesses and assets, Presently this funds and assets
is still with the bank and the management wrote me to come forward
to collect the money because the date agreed with the bank
for collection has expired and due to my condition of my
health and since am unable to go and collect the funds,
I should prepare a letter of authorization to somebody whom I trust
to collect the fund on my behalf. I am presently in a hospital where
I have been undergoing treatment for Cancer of the lungs,
I have since lost my ability to talk and my doctors have told me
that I have only a few months to Live.
Please i want you to note that this funds is lying in the Bank.

I want a person that is trustworthy that will utilize this money to
fund churches, orphanages and widows around the world but in my name
"Mrs.Rachael James" As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you
the contact of my lawyer. I will also issue you a letter of
authority that will prove you as the new beneficiary of this fund.
Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated herein and
Keep this contact confidential till such a time this funds get to your
hands, this is to ensure that nothing jeopardizes my last wish on
Earth.

I await your urgent reply.

Yours In Christ,

Mrs. James

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