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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: "Warren Cole" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <WarrenCole@qq.com>
Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2014 02:34:55 +0100
Subject: MY DEAR GOOD FRIEND

Hello ,
 
I am writing this email to you with a sense of responsibility hoping that my mail will not embarrass you considering the fact that we have not met before.I am contacting you base on your country location, please permit me to use this means to inform you to partner with to form an investment platform in your country  or any other lucrative businesses we can invest in hoping you will not disappoint me in any way. I will provide you all the necessary detail about me once trust is established between us. Please read thoroughly and get back to me but you have the obligation to decline if you are not interested.
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My name is Warren Cole an American soldier serving in the Military of the 1st Armored Division in Afghanistan. As you know, we are being attacked by insurgents everyday and car bombings. Based on the United States legislative and executive decision for gradual troop withdrawal process in Afghanistan, I have applied for honorable discharge based on the grounds of reduction in force (RI) as demanded by Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).
Without mincing words, I would want to confide in you that I have in my possession the sum of Euro 13,500,000 ( Thirteen Million five hundred thousand Euro) which was recovered  during one of our raids from a mansion belonging to one of the anti US Militant groups member who was a crude oil exporter. I deposited this money with a Red Cross agent informing him that we are making contact for the real owner of the money. It is under my power to approve whoever comes forth for this money. I have this money stored somewhere in an abandoned mine in Kabul waiting for a moment like this to put the money in good use with the help of a reputable and sincere person for investment purposes. This is the reason for contacting you.
I am ready to compensate you with 20% of the funds. The only thing I require from you is just for you to help me move the money out of Afghanistan because Afghanistan is a war zone. I have mapped out a strategy of using diplomatic means to move the money out of Afghanistan to your country as I shall inform the diplomat that the box contains your personal research materials.
 
If you are interested I will send you the full details. Can I trust you? When you receive this letter, kindly send me an e-mail signifying your interest including the following information such as (1) Your full names (2) Your full address (3) Your Direct Telephone number. In less than four days, the money with my box shall be in your possession. I shall provide you with the full details as soon as I receive your response.
Regards
Warren Cole

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