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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: "lsmith.investmentagency" <lsmith.investmentagency@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 18 Oct 2014 20:59:47 +0100
Subject: Good Day Friend.

--
MY DEAR FRIEND AS A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,PRECISELY
OCALA FLORIDA, C.E.O/PRESIDENT BELL FAST AGENCY'S, 76 YEARS OF
AGE,WITH NO FAMILY DUE TO AN UNFORTUNATE CAR ACCIDENT I ENCOUNTERED IN
NOVEMBER 29 2012, IN WHICH I LOST MY WIFE AND KIDS(FAMILY). I HAD
INVESTED ALL I HAVE IN CRUDE OIL/PETROLEUM BUSINESS IN WEST AFRICA, I
HAVE SUCCEEDED IN THIS GREAT VENTURE AS NEGOTIATED. BUT NOW AM SICK OF
A HEART ILLNESS, AS WE DO SPEAK I AM AWAY TO AUSTRALIA FOR A HEART
OPERATION. FOR YOUR ADVICE AND EFFORTS SO FAR IN OUR PREVIOUS
DEALING'S. I HAVE LEFT WITH MY SECRETARY FOR YOU THE SUM OF
$550,000.00,{FIVE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS}
CERTIFIED INTERNATIONAL BANK DRAFT CHECK DEPOSITED IN YOUR NAME.
PLEASE FOR THE AUTHENTICITY OF THIS TRANSACTION I WILL WANT YOU TO
CONTACT MY SECRETARY JONATHAN AGU VIA E-MAIL:

jonathanagu2001@gmail.com

I DEMAND THAT YOU CONTACT HIM IMMEDIATELY AS HE WAIT TO HEAR FROM YOU.
MY DEAR FRIEND PLEASE DO ACCEPT THIS LITTLE TOKEN FROM ME IN GOOD
FAITH.

REGARDS
LARRY SMITH. C.E.O/PRESIDENT BELL FAST AGENCY'S.

Anti-fraud resources: