joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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: "MICHAEL KENNEDY" <info@customssauctions.com>
Date: Thu, 5 Dec 2013 16:11:23 -0500
Subject: PLEASE HELP

This letter may come to you as a surprise due to the fact that we have not
yet met. I am contacting you to assist me, I have to say that I have no
intentions of causing you any pains as you read this .I don't want you to
feel sorry for me, because, I believe everyone will die someday. My name
is Mr MICHAEL KENNEDY, a merchant here in London, presently taking medical
treatment now, I have been diagnosed with Prostate and Esophageal cancer
that was discovered very late due to my uncaring attitude for my health.
It has defiled all form of medicine and right now, I have only about a few
months to live according to medical experts. To be frank with you, I have
not particularly lived my life so well, as I never really cared for anyone
not even myself but my business and money. Though I am very rich, I was
never generous, I was always hostile to people and only focus on my
business as that was the only thing I cared for. But now I regret all this
as I now know that there is more to life than just wanting to have or make
all the money in the world .I believe when GOD gives me a second chance to
come to this world I would live my life a different way from how I have
lived it. Now that I know my time is almost up, I have willed and given
most of my properties and assets to my immediate and extended family
members and asked members of my family to close one of my accounts and
donate the money which I have there to some charity organizations in
Bulgaria, they refused and kept the money to themselves, Hence, I do not
trust them anymore, as they seem not to be content with what I have left
for them.

The last of my money is the huge cash deposit ($15m) that I have in a
Bank, I will want you to help me collect this deposit and dispatched it
to charity organizations. If you wish to help me kindly email me on
michael.kennedy147@outlook.com.


GOD BLESS.

Anti-fraud resources: