joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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 Mary Andrew <mm233007@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrsmary.a@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 19:55:54 +0000
Subject: I am Mrs. Mary Andrew

Hello My Dear Frined,
Greetings to you.

Although, this orphanage letter has been sent to you before but none of
your response has been received why? Please do not take this orphanage
project as a joke as i am not asking you for any payment and this is never
prank as the end will justify the truth. Well its a sad and long story but
I will cut it short for your quick and easy understanding.

I am Mrs. Mary Andrew, widow to Late Mr. Brain Andrew, My husband was
murdered by those who are envious of his position in his office and he made
a vow before his death which made me to contact you for this orphanage
project after my search of your contact in your country. Before his death
he made a vow to use his wealth for the down trodden, orphanages and the
less privileged in the society. Having known my condition I decided to
donate this fund to an individual or better still a God fearing person who
will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct here in. The funds
were deposited overseas and i want an individual that will use this fund
and provide succor to poor and indigent persons, orphanages, and widows and
for the propagating peace.

I took this decision because I do not have any child that will inherit this
money and my husband relatives are not inclined to helping poor persons and
I do not want my husband's hard earned money to be misused or spent in the
manner in which my late husband did not specify. I do not want a situation
where this money will be used in an ungodly manner.

What is required of you is your honesty, trust and sincerity as any delay
in your reply will give me room in sourcing for another individual for this
same purpose.

Yours sister,
Mrs Mary Andrew

Anti-fraud resources: