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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: "Gen. Aston" (may be fake)
Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2013 09:08:14 -0000
Subject: Investment Proposal

 
 
 
 
Dear,
 
 
Good day,how are you and your business,i came across you when i was searching on the internet to look for someone trustworthy to hook up with as my beneficiary and partner as i want to invest in your country,you can also ask me questions if you are confused about that and i will let you know whatever you want to know okay.below is my introduction and my proposal as-well.
 
I am Gen Aston Williams, commanding the 3rd Battalion, 8th  Marines Regiment(3/8)  in Afghanistan. At this moment I want you to hold this top secret while helping me to secure the sum of $10,200,000.00 (ten million two hundred thousand united state dollars) which I recovered on our patrol in Garmis District, Helmand Provincen of Afghanistan.
 
I will be oblige to educate you more on this when i receive your reply to this email.I will transfer the money to you where you will be the beneficiary, because I am a uniformed man and I cannot be parading such an amount , so this is the reason why i need someone who will be a partner and also a representative, I am an American and an intelligence officer for that so I have 100% authentic means of transferring(moving) the money through diplomatic service . I just need your acceptance and all is done.i will give you 20% and 80% is mine,i hope i am being fair on this deal.so that in the next few days as you accept, the money will be with you.
 
get back to me with the below info for the transfer of the funds and verification of you as trust.
 
get back to me through this email(aston.wills@outlook.com)
 
YOUR FULL NAME.........
YOUR FULL ADDRESS....................
YOUR DIRECT TELEPHONE NUMBER.........
AGE.......
YOUR IDENTITY CARD...........
OCCUPATION...................
MARITAL STATUS..............
 
Thanks and God bless
 
Gen.Aston
 

Anti-fraud resources: