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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: "=?ISO-8859-1?B?Y2hpbWE=?=" <chimajohn2@qq.com>
Date: Sun, 1 Dec 2013 01:42:42 +0800
Subject: good day

Good day sir

My name is MISS BLESSING FILIDORI. I am writing this email to you with tears and sorrow from my heart. With due respect, trust and humanity, I appeal to you to exercise a little patience and read this email.

I got your contact/profile through an international directory and I become interested in disclosing everything about myself to you. It is true that we have not seen or known each other before. I am the only product of late Mr. and Mrs. Joshua K. Filidori from Ivory Coast. Please my lord, let us reason together and have trust in God our creator. I am seeking your assistance to help me transfer my inheritance money, the sum of (US$3,650,000.00) Three Million, Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand United States of American Dollars into your bank account. My late father willed this money to me, though my mother has died when he wrote the will in my name.

Please it is more than urgent because my life is in danger as my father's brothers and family members are after my life because of this huge amount of money willed to me. I have now run out of my country to Togo Republic for my life's security. My late father was a Politician and also Gold and Cocoa merchant in Ivory Coast before his business colleagues poisoned him and he died. My Lord, I am willing to give you 25% of this inheritance money for your efforts and assistance after the successful transfer of the money into your bank account overseas because I would like to invest in your country. I will give you more details when I receive your reply. Anticipating hearing from you urgently and please reply to my private Email: ms.ansah@rediffmail.com

Thanks and God bless. Yours sincerely,
MISS BLESSING FILIDORI

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