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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: Elvis Francis <ruhayat@len.co.id>
Reply-To: Elvis Francis <privacyelvisfrancis@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2014 18:22:05 +0700 (WIT)
Subject: From Elvis Francis

Greetings,

I am Elvis Francis the only son of late Mr and Mrs Edward Francis, My
father was a very wealthy Rubber plantation merchant and the managing
director of AGO-ELITE Rubber Plantation Farm in Abidjan; the economic
capital of Ivory Coast, my father was poisoned to death by his business
associates on one of their outings on a business trip.

My mother died when I was a child and since then my father took me special.

Before the death of my father on November 2013 in a private hospital here
in Abidjan he secretly called me on his bed side and told me that he has
the sum of Nine million, five hundred thousand United State Dollars.US
($9.500,000) left in fixed / suspense account in one of the prime banks in
Abidjan ,that he used my name as his only son for the next of Kin in
depositing of the fund.

He also explained to me that it was because of this wealth that he was
poisoned by his business associates.

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 purpose such as real
estate management or hotel management.
Now, I am honorably seeking your assistance in the following ways:
(1) To serve as a guardian and foreign co-beneficiary of this fund.

(2) To make arrangement for me to come over to your country to further my
education and to secure resident permit in your country.

I am willing to offer you 15% of the total sum as compensation for your
effort/input after the transfer of this fund into your account overseas.

I will send to you the Bank contact in Abidjan so that you will speak on
my behalf as soon as I hear from you with all details.

Hoping to hear from you soon. May God bless you and preserve our
friendship in good faith.
Best Regards,
Elvis Francis.

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