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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: "Mrs. Carine" <lcottle@baileywyant.com>
Reply-To: <carinediomande2@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2014 10:07:23 +0200
Subject: Re: CAN I TRUST YOU?

Beloved,
 
My name is Mrs. Carine Diomande. I was married to late Mr. Banny Diomande who died in the year 2010. Before his death, he deposited the total sum of US$4,600,000.00 (Four Million, Six Hundred Thousand United States Dollars). Writing with humanitarian heart, I went for medical examination my doctor told me that I might not last for the next two months due to my breast cancer.
 
Having known my condition, I decided to donate this fund for orphanages. I am a dying woman who has decided to donate these funds for the good work of charity. I have been touched by the affliction of less-privileged to donate from what I have inherited from my late husband to you for the good work of charity. I decided to donate the sum of $4,600,000.00 (Four million Six hundred thousand dollars) to you for the good work to help the less privilege and also for the assistance of the widows and unfortunate mothers.
 
Presently, my health condition is in bad condition and I don't want to abandon the money at the bank. This is the reason why I have decided to donate this fund to you and I want you to take good care of the fund immediately it arrives into your bank account. I will have to sign Power of Attorney to instruct the bank to transfer the fund to you. I have to sign Power of Attorney certificate in your name for the fund transfer and I would wish that you send me the following information to enable me sign the Power of attorney certificate and instruct the bank to transfer the fund to you;
 
1). Your full legal name
2). Home or office address
3). Your direct telephone number
4). Nationality
Please send me your information as soon as you receive this message to enable me sign the Power of Attorney in your name as the bank has directed so as to enable the bank transfer these funds to your bank account.
 
Presently this fund is still in the vault of the Bank. I need someone who will use this fund according to the desire and dreams in setting up charity organization. I'll be expecting to read from you.
 
Yours sister
Mrs. Carine

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