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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: frank owen <frankowen131@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 27 Jun 2014 03:04:43 -0700
Subject:

Dear Friend,

Permit me to inform you of my desire of going
into business relationship with you. I know you are a reputable person I
can do business with you, I must not hesitate to confide in you for
this simple and sincere business.

My father was a very wealthy Cocoa Merchant based here in West
Africa. Before he died in a Hospital, he secretly called me to his
bedside and told me that there is Twenty Five Million Five Hundred
Thousand United States Dollars
(Us$25.5m) he has in a Security Company with my name . Also his last
words, was that I should move out of my country through assistance to
any safe place for cover [Exile] immediately after his burial, then from
there that I should find a possible way of moving out of Africa and
naturalize in a foreign country where I can put up solid investment with
the money.

My father advise was 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 specifically, he advised that I should start a
Business with a petroleum and oil.
I humbly seeking your assistance in the following ways;
1. To serve as the guardian of this fund, 2. To assist me in putting
this sum of money in safe keeping by accepting to receive it from the
Security company with a letter of Authorization from me, 3. To make
arrangement for me to come over to your country 4. To secure
residential permit for me in your country.

I am willing to offer you a percentage that you will not refuse from
the total sum as compensation for your effort/input after the
successful completion of the transaction. To commence, I will need you
to send to me your Telephone and Fax Numbers for further communication.
If you are not Interested, Please do not reply to this mail,

Thank you while expecting to hear from you soon.

Sincerely,

Frank Owen

frankowen131@gmail.com
<alaloia@aol.com>

Anti-fraud resources: