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: "Philip Nelson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <philipnelson27@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 4 Mar 2015 11:27:06 -0600
Subject: Legal Proposal..

Dear Sir/Madam.
 
THE UNITED NATIONS ORGANIZATION In Conjunction with the International Monetary Fund WORLD BANK FACT-FINDING & SPECIAL DUTIES OFFICE JOHANNESBURG SOUTH AFRICA
 
 
 
I am Philip Nelson, an accountant with the ministry of Energy and natural resources South Africa , presently we discovered the sum of 8.6 million British pounds sterling, floating in our suspense Account.
 
 
This money as a matter of fact was an over invoiced Contract payment which has been approved for payment Since 2006, now we want to secretly transfer   This money out for our personal use into an overseas Account if you will allow us to use your account to Receive this fund, we shall give you 30% for all your Effort and expenses you will incure if you agree to Help.
 
 
This is just a brief detail on this transaction If you are ready and willing to give us a chance please For more confidentiality send me an email to this address * philipnelson27@yahoo.com *  then I will get back to you.
 
 
Regards,
Philip Nelson
 

Anti-fraud resources: