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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: "MR. Karl ALFRED (ESQ)" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <karlalfredo@yahoo.nl>
Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2014 21:43:28 -0000
Subject: Re: READ

.......................................................................................................................
 
                                                      ATTENTION ! ! !
Dear Sir/ Ma.
I am Barrister Karl ALFRED, a Solicitor, Personal Attorney to Dr. Edward Al-Humood Ovia, my late client (Dr. Edward Al-Humood Ovia) informed me before his death that he sent a proposal to you in respect to this fund (us$30.5m), for an investment purposes preferably in your country. He sent me your e-mail address. I want you to know that this project did not by any reason connect with any fraud act such as drugs, money laundry, firearms and or looting of Government fund, which I believe might make you skeptical and consequently withdrawing your help for security reasons.
As I want you to know that this fund came as a result of business pay back from his export, import and Gold business that my late client as the former Presidential adviser on Budget and planning to our great country have engaged in past.
Subsequently, I will dispatch submitting your personal information to the Security Finance Bank Warehouse. As his foreign business associate partner who is to Receive and claim this fund on behalf of my late client, as the opposition government is after all that he has. With your help his only surviving son MUHAMMAD who has been in comma after their accident can start a new life and you will go into business investment with him with this fund in your country. In which you will resume as the managing director till he is able to come over and meet/settle down in your country.
Having said that, I had a detailed discussion with my late client, and I want you to assure me that this money is safe with you, as soon as it's in your possession. Anyway, he told me that you can be trusted. Please I want you to know that this is a 100% risk-free on both sides. All modalities have been worked out, and all we need to do now is for you to follow the instructions and directives from the Finance Bank. And keep this confidentiality.
The Security Finance Bank Warehouse will open communication with you immediately I present you as the beneficiary of the fund, so you are hereby advice to send me These information will be kept as an utmost confidentiality.
    1. Your full Name:-
    2. Contact Home Address:-
    3. Contact Office Address:-
    4. Direct Phone Number:-
    5.  A Scan photocopy of the First page of Your International Passport/Drivers License ( as an attachment file ) if possible.....In your next email to me.
Furthermore, kindly advice on a profitable business to invest in Country.
Finally, I await your quick response and please indicate your ability of full assist.
Your prompt in my next email immediately I receive your full information's.
 
Give me your response immediately, by return mail:
 
Respectfully Yours in-service,
MR. Karl ALFRED  (ESQ)
(UN) Human Right Activist
 
......................................................................
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