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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Saif al-Islam Gaddafi" <sammydude@idealtrading.pk>
Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2015 21:44:11 +0100
Subject:


Hello, Hope this mail finds you in good health? I am Saif al-Islam Gaddafi,the second son to the late Libyan leader (Maummar Gaddafi & Sarfia Farkash), I am writing you from where I am been held currently after been condemned and sentenced to death by the Libyan government since July 2015, after been captured by the Libyan military since Nov 2011 after the Civil War, which I am currently awaiting the day I will be executed, And since my execution is imminent and confirmed, I had to secretly arrange with one of the security guards in charge of the prison where I am kept until my execution date to assist me get an internet access so that I can be able to contact you urgently and discuss a very important issue with you concerning my funds with a bank in the UK, Which I don’t want the bank to take over or hand over to the Libyan Government when I am finally executed. Which I would want the funds to be used for a Good purpose and to help the poor anywhere you choose, which after you accept to help me claim the funds out of the U.K bank to your own choice of bank anywhere in the world, you can have 30% of the total funds you will be transferring and claiming from U.K Bank to yourself and use the remaining 70% to help the poor in the society on my behalf. In my next mail to you after you agree to assist me in achieving this aim, I shall give you all the details you need in order to lay claims over the funds from the U.K bank where the money is, so as for the funds to be easy for you to claim and have it transferred to your country urgently without any problem, which I shall give you the Bank Name, Bank official in charge of the funds with the U.K Bank, The total amount you are to claim from the bank and also the Deposit of certificate of the funds, so it will be easy for you to make claims of the funds when you are contacting the bank to claim the funds as my representative in order to use the funds to do a good work for the poor people in the society rather than for the funds to be taking away by the bank after my death sentence is done or taking away by the Libyan government for nothing. Please note that I have limited time to communicate with you due to the place I am kept now awaiting my death sentence, so please I urge you to indicate if you’re willing to help me fulfill my wish to help the poor and needy in the society with my funds after you have claimed it out of the U.K Bank to your own choice of Bank, which for your efforts and courage, you can keep 30% of the funds to yourself for your assistance and use the 70% remaining to help the poor anywhere you choose, hoping to read from you soon, so as for me to guide you further. Mr. Saif al-Islam Gaddafi

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