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 Helen carte <mrs.elaineslark@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrs.hellencarte@hotmail.com
Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2014 12:53:34 +0100
Subject: Do you remember of your over due fund?

--
.Hi Dear

This is to notify that your over due fund of $5,000,000.00USD which has
been delayed since years ago is now ready for payment but i don't know how i
am to explain this to you because what i was able to retrieve from the bank
is only but $459,000.00 which i don't know how i am to send these funds
across to you.

If you really need the funds valued $459,000.00, then do let me know so
i can instruct the bank to send you the money.

Hope it is safe for you to receive the funds?

Remain blessed and healthy.

Yours faithfully,

Yours In Service,
Mrs Hellen Cart
United Nations Executive Officer

Anti-fraud resources: