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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Idris Idris" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jjj.hhh6@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 1 Dec 2014 12:24:30 -0500
Subject: YOUR URGENT RESPONSE.

Good Day,
Hello, to be frank with you, this business we are about to commence is fundamentally based on trust. My decision to communicate and inform you about this transaction was reached after much careful thought/discussion with honorable David Mongo, the treasury payer of the Republic Congo. Now listen, due to my personal relationship with most of African Government officials, they always confide in my person in a period like this and in terms of international assistance since they know that I am from a well respected family in Gabon Republic, since early this year there has been series of re-shufflement in the civil services and many top Government officials are effected in the shake-up including my very good friend the treasury payer David Mongo, who has served the Government for many years. He instructed me to negotiate with any foreign associate company overseas to stand as the beneficiary to his Fund amounted to US$58 Million Dollars. This fund was deposited by late Val Smith, who died of cancer (brief) the d
I have confidence that you will always maintain the required confidentiality and honesty which are the 2 main factors towards the successful realization of this operation; I then felt that it is better to transact this operation with your name/ company (IF ANY) to stand as the beneficiary for this fund. So please indicate to me your esteemed interest in this venture for necessary arrangement towards transferring this fund to your care without any exposure which if not for this reason he would have preferred to conclude this operation with you face to face.
Your participation: you shall take charge only for the non domiciliary account opening refundable fee amounted to $280; you shall contact the Bank processing Officer direct for this, since the account must be opened on your name. Thereafter, I will proceed with the change of ownership of the funds to your name.
Please get back to me with your confirmation for proceedings: 30% for you while 10% is for me.
Sincerely,
Idris N.

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