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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: "Allen Gomez" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <allengomez@teen.in.th>
Date: Mon, 2 Dec 2013 15:47:05 -0800
Subject: Investment Proposal

Dear friend,
 
My name is Allen Gomez. I got your profile from the (Email Directory) of your country
 
After going through your profile i deem it necessary to contact you for a business investment .I have great interest to invest in your country. I was once a U.S. Army deployed in Afghanistan. I got out of the Army because we made some million of US money worth $ 8,000,000.00 (Eight Million United States Dollars). We find this money in Afghanistan and managed to transfer the funds to London. Unfortunately,three of my colleagues, involved in this operation died in Afghanistan and I was the only person left. Currently the fund is safe in a security company and finance in London.I later dropped out of the war because of my heart problem and my inability to hear properly. This is because my ears were hit by anti-aircraft shells.
 
I wanted to invest this money in your country, but have no body to trust, until I saw your profile and decided to write you. My purpose of contacting you is assist me to receive and invest this money $8,000,000,00USD in a project that will create jobs for the poor and less privileged. I will give 30% of the funds for your services. Get back to me if you can handle this project properly. Then lets agree.. I'm currently in the hospital with my laptop and I do not know if I can survive this condition.
 
Meanwhile, I'm in touch with a competent Lawyer who will clear the funds from the security company here in London and transfer the money to you in you.
 
Please keep this top secret from your friends and relations. I await your response for more details.
 
Yours sincerely
 
 
Allen Gomez.

Anti-fraud resources: