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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: "Amina Williams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <aminawilliams1@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 29 Mar 2014 13:58:51 +0100
Subject: Dear One

Dear One,

Good day and Compliments,

I am writing this letter in confidence believing that if it is the will of God for you to help me, God almighty will bless and reward you abundantly and you would never regret this. I am 19 years old. I do like any person who can be careering, loving and home oriented. I will love to have a long-term relationship with you and to know more about you. I would like to build up a solid foundation with you in time coming if you can be able to help me in this transaction. Well, my parents died by poison as professional doctors confirmed during their business trip with friends.

I am the only person who can take care of his wealth as the only Child and daughter but now because I am still young. My late father left the sum of USD 4. 350,000.00 dollars (Four Million, Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand US Dollars) in a security company here in Benin Republic .This money was annually paid into my late father’s account from Shell petroleum development company(spdc)and chevron oil company operating in our locality for the compensation of youth and community development.

I don't know how and what I will do to invest this money somewhere in abroad so that my father's kindred will not take over what belongs to my father and our family because that is the only thing left which i want to use to gain my future, which they were planning to do without my present because I am still a young girl as stated by our culture. Now, I urgently need your humble assistance to move this money from the security company to your country and I strongly believe that by the grace of God, you will help me invest this money wisely. I am ready to pay 15% of the total amount to you if you help me in this transaction and another 10% interest of Annual Income to you, for handling this transaction for me, 5% is for any expenses which you will do during this transaction.

If you can handle this project sincerely and also willing to assist me in lifting this fund, kindly reach me. Please, note that this transaction is 100% risk free and I hope to commence the transaction as quick as possible, I will send you my picture and the certificate of deposit as soon as I hear from you.

You can also reply to me with my private email address (aminawilliams1@hotmail.com)

Yours sincerely,
Amina Williams

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