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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: Katherine Boateng <katernboaten5@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <katernboatens@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 21 Jul 2014 10:15:51 +0000
Subject: WE NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE.


ATTN: MY BELOVED FRIEND ,

May
you never be victim or prisoner of war like myself as you read my
problems. Before now I have given some of friends that are feeling my
condition in their heart your address to contact you for me , have you
received their message? Reference to esteem recommendation of your
trustworthiness, honesty and transparency of your integrity I received.

I
am KATHERINE BOATENG(Mrs) the wife of late Mr FRANK BOATENG who died in
the last DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (DRC) CIVIL WAR. My husband was a
Minister for Foreign Affairs in the government of out stead late
LAURENT KABILA. My husband was given the sum of US$25 million
(Twenty-Five million united states of American dollars) to purchase
military arms for the country few days before the Rebels came to
fight.They told my husband to bring out the money but he refused, they
killed him and my elder son who they alleged collaborated with him to
seize the money.

My dear, with the help of Red Cross Society of
DRC ,we carried the money across our national boundary down to my
present place where I and two of my children are now as refugees. I have
since deposited the money in GALLANT TRUST SECURITY Company for safe
keeping as I couldn't meet up with the bank requirements for opening an
account. I write to assist me to bring the money over to your country
where we can settle and you direct us to invest the money in a
profitable venture.

You will take 25% of the total money for
your help. Please write us a letter of acceptance today with your detail
contact because we are suffering here .

We are thanking you in anticipation for your help.

YOURS SINCERELY, YOU WILL TAKE 25%.

KATHERINE BOATENG (MRS)

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