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: "Stephen Gianino" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <stephengianino253@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 22:52:23 +0200
Subject: Info

My name is Stephen Gianino,Investigating Officer,HM Treasury. I wish to notify you that your Inheritance fund ($6Million USD), has been package in a consignment to be deliver to you, through our diplomat who has arrived Africa, I need you to get back to me, to enable me release the contact of the diplomat to you.

Send me your name, address and contact telephone number

Mr. Stephen Gianino

Anti-fraud resources: