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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: "John Richards" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <john_richards49@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2014 16:04:39 +0300
Subject: Good Day,

Good Day,
 
 
Be informed that my previous mail was not responded to since I did not hear from you. I am pleased to solicit once again your sincere and urgent assistance over this matter. My names are Mr. John Richards. I am a political refugee residing in Accra Ghana. I am seeking your assistance and co-operation to invest in real estate in your country. However, I do not know any investor over there that I may trust to handle this on my behalf until my refugee status is over.
 
 
 
I need experienced personnel or corporate body that capable both morally and professionally to partner with me and set up this project successfully. For a start, I wish to invest Usd $50 Million which shall be moved to your country as soon as we sign or endorse a Memorandum of Understanding ( M O U ) and Non Disclosure/Non Circumvention Agreement.
 
 
 
For your assistance and participation in this project, I intend to offer you 10% of the total sum and may be another 10% of the profit realized for 5 years, after all notable expenditures from both sides have been dully deducted from the principal sum. Upon your confirmation to work with me in this regard, I will inform my attorney to prepare the M O U which we shall sign for our mutual interest and protection. I will give you more detailed information concerning this project as soon as I receive your positive reply and profile. Please forward your response to my private e-mail,  john_richards49@yahoo.com
 
 
Looking forward to your soonest response.
 
 
Mr. John Richards.

Anti-fraud resources: