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: "LUS Yannis" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <lus_yannis@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2015 15:20:26 +0200
Subject: Consider It Pls

Hi,
I'M LUS YANNIS, 22YRS, the only son of my late parents Mr and Mrs. LUS HAPITIA USMAN.
My late father was a reputable business Man here in Ivory Coast during his days.
Unfortunately I lost him mysteriously; he died in France during one of his business trips abroad in October 2014.
Though, his sudden death was linked or rather suspected to have been masterminded by an uncle who travelled with him at that time.
My mother died when I was 4YRS old, and since then my late father took me so special.
Before his death on October 9th 2014, he called the secretary who accompanied him in hospital and told him to call on me, on my arrival to the hospital my father told me that he deposited the sum of ($9,500,000.00) with a government Films in the Philippines.
He further told me that he deposited the money in his name, and I as the next of kin but then issued instruction to his lawyer whom he said is in possession of all necessary legal document to his properties, may while, this particular is residing in London.
I want a joint cooperation with you so that an account overseas will be opened i.e. where I can transfer this to and then I’ll come to your country for joint investment, it’s what I wanted because I have suffered a lot of setback and I do not wish to leave here.
Your suggestions and ideas will be highly regarded please reply
Thanks & Regards
L. YANNIS

Anti-fraud resources: