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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: "Robert J Anderson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <robertjanderson1818@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 3 Jun 2014 18:44:39 +0200
Subject: RE: I WANT TO WORK WITH YOU

Sir,

My names IS Robert J. Anderson, attorney-at-law; actually I got your contact information through the Philippines public records while searching for a last name similar to my late client's name Vidale Acosta a business tycoon who lived in Philippines for over Twenty-One years; he died along with his family during the TYPHONE HAIYAN Disaster which occurred in November 2013 while on their exploration and short holidays visit to TACLOBAN. However the circumstances and urgency of this claim have prone me to send you this unsolicited correspondence, which I humbly apologize.

Before the catastrophe; He deposited a save deposit box, containing the sum of $8.2M (EIGHT MILLION, TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND US DOLLARS) with a Safe Security Company here in Philippines, because of security and personal reasons he did not disclose the exact content of save deposit box to the treasure house. As the attorney to late Vidale Acosta the security company has mandated me to present a member of his family (heir/inheritor) to make claims or the vault will be confiscated and taken to the Bureau of Diplomatic Security as unclaimed. After abortive efforts searching for a direct family member which came to no avail, I was given an ultimatum to look for some relative to put up a claim or have the Vault liquidated and made unserviceable in accordance with existing vault/security laws.

Against this backdrop, I do suggest you stand as the heir. I know you may not be anyway related to my late client but having a common surname with him and the modalities I have in place, I can guarantee that if you follow my instructions (The rule of laws) the vault will be release to us.

Mind you, this transaction is 100% risk free; there is no atom of risk connected to this business as I have worked out all modalities to complete the operation effectively. Once the Vault is released to you, we shall divide the content in the ratio of 50% for you, 50% for me as our benefit. ($4.1 Million each)

Kindly indicate your response to this letter via my official email address below. Please be kind to get back to me if you are not willing to collaborate with me so that I can further my search for another partner.

Best Regards,


Robert J Anderson

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