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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: "Capt Rutherford Amer Maxwell" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <cramaxwell@outlook.com>
Date: Fri, 1 Jan 2016 01:56:59 -0800
Subject: HAPPY NEW YEAR

Dear Friend,
HAPPY NEW YEAR,
KINDLY READ CAREFULLY AND KEEP DETAILS CONFIDENTIAL
I know this email may come as a surprise to you although it is with good motive. Before I go any further, I want to share more about myself. My name is Captain Rutherford Amer Maxwell, United States. I am an American Citizen currently serving in Afghanistan. I formally served inBaghdad Iraqin 2003. Im 37yrs old and only child of both parents. My dad was a US marine before he passed away. My mom is disabled.
I contacting you because I want you to help me receive a consignment (Box) that deposited with a private security company; the consignment (Box) as family treasure but contains 10million dollars. Please note that the security company does not know that the box contains money, a missionary Reverend Father deposited it on my behalf without knowing the actual content, I came into possession of this money. In 2003, I was the one commanding the US 3rd Infantry Division in Baghdad, Iraq. On our raids of 23 and 26 April 2003 in Baghdad, we came across a huge amount of money in containers. Please visit
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2988455.stm, for confirmation of this story After we discovered the money, Me and five other officers hide some part of the money that we discovered and returned the rest to US Central command.
After handing over the fund to US Army, it was discovered after 3 weeks that the fund was tampered which we denied and was exonerated but has been under surveillance thus making it very impossible for me to handle the reclaiming, the private security company is requesting reclaiming of the consignment hence I need you to claim it on my behalf, so I will be most thankful to God if you can receive the consignment from the security company on my behalf. I offer you 1.5million of the total fund and 1million for Charity work because God has been protecting me. I do pray and hope you are a honest person as I strongly believe honesty is the basis of any meaningful relationship.
Note: All the documents used in lodging the consignment (Box) with the security Company are all in my possession. I will apply for change of ownership as soon as we have understanding on willingness to work together.
Thanks and God bless you.
Yours Sincerely,
Capt Rutherford Amer Maxwell
 
 
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