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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: "Bernice Matthew" <bernicemat32@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 30 Nov 2013 18:47:05 -0700
Subject:

This is not a joke. I sincerely write to seek your help. I am a girl of 16 years old and a refugee under the United Nations refugees. My parents Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Matthews died in plane crash in December 23rd, 2003 in on there way to Lebanon. (www.cnn.com/2003/ WORLD/africa/12/26/benin.crash ). I write you to seek refugee in your country and to further my education since i have no other famly members here.
 
When my parents died in December 2003, i was the only child and 6 years. My parents were diamond dealers before they died.Two years after my parents died, my relatives forced me into child marriage. Against my wish i married a 36 years old man. My relatives said the man will give me protection as tradition demands in my country. I never knew the marriage i went into until the man associated with my extended family members and shared my late parents belongings. When i complained, i was locked up in a room and beaten up. None of my relatives said anything positive to help me. I was fast losing my life until the police rescued me.
 
The terror i passed through in the hands of my family members is tormenting until now. I cannot go back to them again because my parents are no more and i have no brothers and sisters to share my life with. When i started planning of taking refugee in another country, i went to the lawyer who helped got freedom from the man who married me, the lawyer told me of my inheritance and gave me papers of my father's bank deposits valued at 15 Million United States Dollars. This money, according to the bank is made from Diamond sells in the same Bank in Newyork- United States of America.
 
I am asking for your assistance because the bank says i must come to America to be able to do business in America or have a residence permit to enable me have an account in America. I am seeking your assistance as a mature person to assist me. Let us work together because i am very far from America and cannot afford to be in America now. The lawyer helping me gave me a few advise on what to do. That is why i contacted you. I need you as a new parent and to help me as a resident in getting the fund released. Let us work together.
Thanks.
Bernice Matthews





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