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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: Peter Cotey <petercot55@gmail.com>
Reply-To: cotey_peter22@yahoo.fr
Date: Tue, 12 May 2015 15:39:39 +0100
Subject: Hello,


Hello,

I Know This Message Will Come to You as a Surprise.Please do welcome the
letter and help me out as you finish reading.I am Mr Peter Cotey
Secretary to the Foreign Remittance Manager with one of the prime banks
here in Cote d’Ivoire, West Africa,

I Need Your Urgent Assistance In Transferring The Sum Of € 8.2 million
(Eight Million Two Hundred Thousand European Euros), To Your Account. This
Money Has Been Dormant For Years In Our Bank Without Claim. As you have the
same last name with him. I Want The Bank To Release The Money To You As The
Nearest Person To Our Deceased Customer.

Upon Your Reply. I Will give you details on how the business Will be
executed,and Please observe utmost confidentiality, and be rest assured
that this transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I
shall require your assistance to invest my share in your country. In your
return mail, please do forward your information as listed below if you are
willing to complete this deal with me, to enable me put the total fund in
your name

Your full name:
Your contact address:
Occupation;
Your phone number:
Date of Birth:

I wait for your urgent reply with the above info of yours.

Best Regards,

Mr Peter Cotey

Anti-fraud resources: