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: mary ragnvard <maryragnvard@yandex.com>
Date: Sat, 11 Jul 2015 08:25:50 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: PLEASE MY DEAR HELP ME OUT


Dearest. 
I got your email adress from the yahoo tourist search while looking for some one whom i will call mine,I will really like to have a good relationship with you, and i have a special reason why i decided to contact you. I decided to contact you because of the urgency of my situation here ,I am Miss Mary Mbogo Edwards 24years old girl from Liberia the only daughter of Late prince ,mbogo edwards the deputy minister of national security under the leadership of president Charles Taylor who is now in exile after many innocent soul were killed,
My Father was killed by government of Charles Taylor ,he accuse my father of coup attempt.I am constrained to contact you because of the maltreatment I, am receiving from my step mother. She planned to take away all my late father's treasury and properties from me since the unexpected death of my beloved Father. Meanwhile I wanted to escape to the Europe she hide away my international passport and other valuable travelling documents. Luckily she did not discover where I kept my father’s File which contains important documents.So I decided to run to the refegee camp where I am presently seeking asylum under the United Nations High Commission for the Refegee here in ougadugou,Republic of Burkina faso. I wish to contact you personally for a long term business relationship and investment assistance in your Country.My Father of blessed memory deposited the sum of US$8.500,000.00 in Bank with my name as the next of kin. However, I shall forward you with the necessay documents on confirmation of your acceptance to assist me for the transfer and investment of the fund.

As you will help me in an invsetment, and i will like to complete my studies, as i was in my fist year in the university, when the crisis started. It is my intention to compensate you with 40% of the total money for your services and the balance shall be my investment capital. This is the reason why I decided to contact you. Please all communications should be through this email address only for confidential purposes. As soon as I receive your positive response showing your interest I will put things into action immediately. In the light of the above,I shall appreciate an urgent message indicating your ability and willingness to handle this transaction sincerely. i am staying at the female hostel.Awaiting your urgent and positive response.Please do keep this only to your self please i beg you not to disclose it till i come over , once the fund has been transfered.
Yours Love, Mary.

Anti-fraud resources: