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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: MISS VIVIAN BENSON EDWARD Edward <missvivianbensonedward@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 26 May 2014 11:00:28 +0100
Subject: GREETINGS FROM MISS VIVIAN BENSON EDWARD

*GREETINGS FROM MISS VIVIAN BENSON EDWARDST BRIDGET CATHOLIC
CHURCH,ABIDJAN,COTE D'IVOIRE.*
*WEST AFRICA.*

*DEAREST ONE.*
*WITH HONOUR,FAITH AND CONFIDENCE IN YOU,I DECIDED TO CONTACT YOU AND
REQUEST FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE FOR MUTUAL BENEFICIAL RELATIONSHIP. I AM MISS
VIVIAN BENSON EDWARD ,THE ONLY DAUGHTER OF LATE MR & MRS BENSON EDWARD,*

*MY LATE FATHER WHO UNTIL HIS DEATH WAS **SPECIAL ADVISER ON
POLITICAL-SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC MATTERS TO THE PRIME MINISTER OF COTE
D'IVOIRE GUILLAUME SORO.WHEN HE WAS **PRIME MINISTER, MY LATE FATHER WAS
ASSASSINATED IN 2007 THE INCIDENT OCCURRED DURING A NATIONAL RECONCILIATION
PROGRAM ORGANIZED BY "U.N" AND "A.U" IN BOUAKE TO RESTORE PEACE AND
TOTAL RECONSILIATION BETWEEN THE REBELS AND ALL POLITICAL PARTIES IN COTE
D'IVOIRE BEFORE THE PRESIDENTIAL ELLECTION. *

*BEFORE THE DEATH OF MY FATHER IN 2007 HE GIVE ME SOME DOCUMENTS HE
USE IN DEPOSITEING THE SUM OF FIVE MILLION NINE HUNDRED THOUSAND US
DOLLARS(USD$5.9M)LEFT WITH A FINANCE BANK HERE IN COTE D'IVOIRE.*

*HE TOLD ME ALSO THAT HE USED MY NAME AS THE ONLYDAUGHTER FOR THE NEXT OF
KIN IN DEPOSITING THE FUND. HE ADVISED ME TO SEEK FOR A FOREIGN PARTNER IN
A COUNTRY OF MY CHOICE WHERE I WILL TRANSFER THE FUND FOR INVESTMENT
PURPOSES.*

*I AM HUMBLY SEEKING FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS:*

*1)TO PROVIDE A BANK ACCOUNT INTO WHICH THE MONEY WILL BE TRANSFERRED.*

*2)TO SERVE AS THE GUARDIAN OF THIS MONEY SINCE I AM 19 YEARS OLD.*

*3)TO MAKE ARRANGEMENT FOR ME TO COME OVER TO YOUR COUNTRY,SECURE
RESIDENTIAL PERMIT FOR ME AND INITIATE THE TYPE OF VIABLE VENTURES TO
INVEST THE MONEY.*

*I AM WILLING TO OFFER YOU 20% OF THE TOTAL MONEY FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE TO
TRANSFER THE FUND IN YOUR NOMINATED BANK ACCOUNT WHILE WE SHALL DISCUSS
YOUR PERCENTAGE IN PROFITS THAT ACCRUE FROM EVERY INVESTMENT.*



*I HEREBY AWAIT FOR YOUR URGENT MAIL AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE THIS
PROPOSAL.YOURS SINCERELY,MISS VIVIAN BENSON EDWARD.*

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