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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: "Emma Yao" <emayao@outlook.com>
Reply-To: emma-yao@outlook.com
Date: Tue, 05 May 2015 02:14:40 -0400
Subject: Dear Beneficiary


Dear Beneficiary,
=

Good day and may the peace of the most gracious God be with you, please I =
have a problem and needs your help, I have decided that it's good a thing t=
o write you for help.
=

I am Emmanuel Yao, 19 years old and the only son of my late parents Mr. a=
nd Mrs. Edward Yao . My father was a highly reputable business magnet (coco=
a and gold merchant) who operated in the capital of Ivory coast and Ghana d=
uring his days. It is sad to say that he passed away mysteriously in France=
during one of his business trips abroad on 12th.September 2009. Though his=
sudden death was linked or rather suspected to have been masterminded by a=
n uncle of his who traveled with him at that time. But only God knows the t=
ruth!
=

My mother died when I was just 4 years old, and since then my father took =
me so special. Before his death on September 12th 2009 he called the secret=
ary who accompanied him to the hospital and told him that he has the sum of=
twelve million, Seven Hundred Thousand United State Dollars. (USD$12.700,0=
00) and 3 boxes contained personal effects where kept in one of the leading=
security company in Ghana.
=

He further told him that he deposited the money in my name, and finally is=
sued a written instruction to his lawyer whom he said is in possession of a=
ll the necessary legal documents to this fund and the security company . I =
am just 19 years old and a university undergraduate and really don't know w=
hat to do. This is because I have suffered a lot of set backs as a result o=
f the death of my late parents. The death of my father actually brought sor=
row to my life.
=

I am in a sincere desire of your humble assistance in this regards. Your s=
uggestions and ideas will be highly regarded. Now permit me to ask these fe=
w questions:-
=

1. Can you honestly help me as your Son?
2. Can I completely trust you?
3. What percentage of the total amount in question will be good for you af=
ter the money is in your country.
=

Please, consider this and get back to me as soon as possible.
Thank you so much.
=

My Regards to your family,
=

Emmanuel Yao
EMMA-YAO@OUTLOOK.COM

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