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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: Mark Wayne <markwayne4real@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 27 Nov 2014 13:09:13 -0100
Subject: URGENT ATTENTION IS NEEDED


Dear Friend,
There is absolutely going to be a great doubt and distrust in your heart in
respect to this mail coupled with the fact that so many miscreants and
mischief-makers who have taken possession of the internet to facilitate
their nefarious deeds, thereby making it extremely difficult to believe
that any quest for assistance through
the internet is real or genuine making it difficult for persons who need
help to get attention ,recognition or assistance.

My names are Mark Wayne , an Accountant General to the resigned president
"BLAISE COMPAORE" of Burkian-Faso,one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders,
which has been swept from power after 27 years by a violent popular
uprising recently. . Actually, the resigned president acquired some huge
amount of money through cotton transaction that came up with his
business counterpart from France and their Japanese buyers in some couples
of years back .Since ,he has resigned from the position of the Head of the
states that gives him power to do whatever he wants to do at anytime
without been questioning whatsoever from anybody.The resigned President,
came to me secretly that i should seek for foreign partner who I can trust
to entrust this money to him or her wherever he/she lives,because there is
a tendency that the Burkina Faso government might want to take action in
seizng his properties in future and this is the only cash he has and he
will not want the government to get it confisticated or freezed up
,therefore we need assistant of foreign partner to help us receive this
money .I have confidence and hope that you will not disappoint me or betray
me. I have already sent the fund out of Burkina -Faso,for safety and easy
movement .I need your sincere and truthful friendship.I package all the
money inside a trunk box and sent it out of Burkina Faso through assistance
of a UN agent and get it deposited in a reliable finance security firm in a
neighboring country .The most important thing is ''' Can I Trust You? I
need your honesty and faithfulness and I promise that you will not regret
to assist me. Everything about this transaction is documented and nothing
will lead to illegal transaction. I want us to develop understanding and
trust. I will entitle you 30% of the entire money for your assistance after
releasing the fund. I just want you to find a safe place where you can keep
this fund until I meet you and we will plan how to invest the fund.I just
want you to keep this transaction secret between me and you because I don’t
want to lose my fund. I hope you will not disappoint me or betray me?I am
looking forward to hear from you.
My Regards,
Mark Wayne.

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