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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: kathleen Benz <kathleenbenzz13@outlook.com>
Reply-To: <benzkathleenn@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 6 Apr 2014 07:40:10 +0100
Subject: Dear Belove Friend


Dear Belove Friend,

It is my greatest delight interest and personal respect and trust which I have on you, though we have not meet before, neither have we seen for the first time,before I pick up your address and write to you. However, it's just my urgent need for foreign partner that made me to contact you for this transaction. I assured you honesty and reliability to champion this business opportunity. I have made up my mind to do this business with you, please assist me to work and archiving this money out of this country.

My name is Miss Kathleen Benz, the only child of Mr and Mrs Benz who was a highly reputable business magnet (a cocoa merchant) who operated in the capital of Cote d'Ivoire during his days.

My father was poisoned by his business associate on one of their business outings, while my mother died when I was a baby after which my father took me so special because I am his only child. Before the death of my father in a private Hospital here in Abidjan , He sincerely called me on his bed side and told me that he had a sum of US $6,500, 000.00 ( Six Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars) in a Bank here in Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire, he also used my name as the next of kinds to deposit the money and he also explained to me that it was because of this wealth that he was poisoned by his business associates, That I should seek for a foreign partner in a country of my choice where I will transfer this money and use it for investment purposes, I want you to assist me by investing this money into a profitable business and also be a guide an over this money.

I am honourably seeking for your assistance in the following ways.

1)To assist me to transfer this money into your account successfully.
2)To provide a bank account where this money would be transfer.
3)To serve as the guardian of this fund since I am a girl of (19)yrs.
4)To make arrangement for me to come over to your country to further my Education and to secure a residential permit in your country.

Furthermore, As soon as I receive your interest in helping me, I will send you more detail's. In the light of the above, I shall appreciate an urgent message indicating your ability and willingness to handle this transaction sincerely. Please do keep this only to your self. I beg you not to disclose it till I come over because I am afraid of my wicked uncle who has threatened to kill me. I believe that this transaction would be concluded within some days as the bank Director promised me that he will commence on the transfer immediately if i provide a bank account for remittance.

Thanks for your kind understanding.

Awaiting to hear from you soonest.
Best Regards,
Miss Kathleen Benz.

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