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: Prempe Solomon <omsain@omsain.com>
Reply-To: soprempe@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 15:39:46 +0000
Subject: Hello



Hello ,
Let this message not come as a surprise to you. I am aware that the
internet has been misused or abuse for nefarious schemes by a tiny
population. But it remains the fastest, easiest and safest method of
sending messages. Corporate organizations such as banks and well
intentioned individuals use the internet to transact and conclude
genuine businesses. Hence I had to use it as a form of communication
to reach you.
I wish to notify you that my friend who is a bank manager as asked me
to contact someone to be the beneficiary to the total sum of US$25m
Dollars in the intent of the deceased (name withheld for purpose of
clarity).
I am contacting you because you have the same surname identity and
therefore I can present you as the beneficiary to the inheritance
since there is no written will by our late client. The bank manager is
compelled to do this because he would not want the bank to return
back the fund (US$25 Million U.S Dollars) into the bank treasury as
unclaimed inheritance.
All the papers will be processed in your acceptance of this deal, I
request that you kindly forward to us your letter of acceptance, your
full name, your current telephone and fax numbers and a forwarding
address to enable us file necessary documents at our high court
probate division for the release of this sum of money in your favor.

Yours faithfully,
Prempe Solomon

Anti-fraud resources: