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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: Miss Mai Allai <ms.mai.alla@mail.bg>
Reply-To: Miss Mai Allai <msmaii.alla@mail.bg>
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 2015 07:34:01 +0900 (JST)
Subject: I'm Mai, please reply.


Hello greetings,
 
I know that
it may sound strange to receive an email from someone you do not know
at all, but I am desperate to save my life an future that is the reason I
took this bold step and made some research before I got your contact. I
have confidence that this is the right step towards the right
direction. My name is Miss Mai Allai and I am from Ivory Coast, a
country in West Africa. My mother died of cancer just after my birth and
I have been with my father who refuses to marry a second wife all
through.
 
Most unfortunately for me, my father just died in a car
accident on his way to one of his Timber exploitation sites. After the
accident, he was recovered dead and the burial ceremony was done
properly.

This issue is serious. Because before my father died
here in the hospital he called me to his bed side and told me that he
deposited the total sum of ($6,500 000.00) Six Million Five Hundred
Thousand U.S Dollar and he deposited it with my name in the bank, making
a declaration to them that the funds is for investment during this
deposit. My late father had an agreement with the bank that the funds
will not be released directly to me until I am 25 years of age or above.
Or if I wish to receive the funds before my 25 years old, then I must
appoint a foreign guardian overseas who shall stand as my guardian to
help me receive the funds in her country.
 
Considering the fact
that I am only 21 years now and the present situation with my late
father relatives, I humbly request that you stand as my foreign guardian
so that the bank here will release and transfer my inheited funds into
your country. I will relocate to meet with you once the transfer is
done, so I can start a new life there. Please come to my rescue
immediately and God will reward you. I am ready to compensate you with
15% of the total amount. We can also go into partnership with my money.

I thank you for your time to read this mail and await to hear from you and until then, May God richly bless you.

Yours sincerely,
Miss Mai.

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