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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: Kenneth Williams <kenwf1@cantv.net>
Reply-To: kenwf20@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2015 18:32:27 +0300
Subject: From Kenneth Williams



--
My dearest Sir/Madam,

Permit me to inform you of my desire of entering into business
relationship with you. I got your email through website directory of
chamber of commerce and industry here in Cotonou, Republic of Benin. I
prayed over it and selected your name among other names due to its
esteeming nature and recommendations given to me as a reputable and
trustworthy person I can do business with, and by their recommendations
I must not hesitate to confide in you for this simple and sincere
business.

I am Kenneth Williams by name and my younger sister Juliet the only son
and daughter of late Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Williams, my father was a
military person and was also engage into cocoa merchant in Cotonou the
economic capital city of Republic of Benin. before he was poisoned to
death by his business associates on one of their outing to discuss on a
business deal. When our father died on the 21st of October 2001.my
mother took me and my sister so special because we are fatherless.

Our mother later died on the 17th of October 2007. But before the death
of our mother on the 17th October 2007 in a private hospital here in
Cotonou,. She secretly called me on her bedside and told me that our
father has a sum of (US$18,000,000.00) EIGHTEEN MILLION US DOLLARS, left
in a local bank here in Cotonou. That he used my name as his only son
for next of kin in deposit of the money. She also explain to me that it
was because of our fathers wealth that he was poisoned by his business
associates, that I should seek for a foreign partner in a country of my
choice where I will transfer this money and use it for investment
purpose. Such as: 1). Real Estate Management
2). The Transport Industry
3). Five Star Hotel

I am honorably seeking your assistance in the followin ways:

1) To provide a bank account where this money would be transferred to

2) to serve as the guardian of this money since I am a boy of 22 years

3) to make arrangement for me and my sister to come over to your country
to further our education as you will be the manager of this money and to
secure a residential permit in your country for me and my sister Juliet.
I am willing to offer you 20% of the total sum as compensation for your
effort input after the successful transfer of this money to your
nominated account overseas. Furthermore, you can indicate your option
towards assisting me as I believe that this transaction will be
concluded within seven (7) days you signify your interest to assist me.

Please get back to me as soon as possible. Any delay in your reply will
give me room in looking for another contact for this same purpose.

Anticipating to hear from you soonest.

Yours Sincerely,

Kenneth Williams and Juliet Williams

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