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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. John Brown" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <john_brown112@rediffmail.com>
Date: Tue, 19 Jan 2016 23:40:26 -0800
Subject: Please read carefully and get back to me

Attention:
 
Please read carefully and get back to me. My name is John Brown, after a serious thought based on my current position as the director of direct Wire transfer with C.B.N. I decided to reach you personally because I do not have anything against you, but the person that involved you in this transaction.
 
In years back your greedy (claimed) partner approached me and requested that I should assist him to fix your name on the Payment Central Computer network as beneficiary for transfer deal with arrangement to transfer huge amount of money by registering you as the legal beneficiary.
 
We agreed that I will get 25% of the total fund, 50% for YOU and 25% for him. After i programmed your name on the payment computer network as the legal beneficiary, He started playing with me trying to push me out of the business completely, that was why I changed the information without his notice.
 
This made it impossible for you to receive the payment no-matter what both of you tried. I am aware that you have been contacted by several officials even your last encontiner with some bank officials to get approvals but all efforts were to no success. Rather they keep demanding fees ON and ON. NOW IF YOU WANT US TO WORK TOGETHER HERE ARE MY CONDITIONS.
 
(I)You MUST promise me NOT to allow ANY OTHER PERSON know about this and I will have 40% of the money then 60% for you because it is only two of us. Again you must keep it highly confidential and secret. why i am giving you 60% is because you will do a little expenses
 
(2) We can conclude the transaction with utmost SECRET and CONFIDENTIALITY if you agree to adhere to my directives, based on these condition,The money will be arrange to be wired into your account after perfecting all necessary documentation. If you do not agreed with my condition, i will advise you, NOT TO EVEN REPLY because there is no way you can conclude the transfer without my notice, I still remain the director of Foreign Payments. I WAIT YOUR REPLY ONLY ON THIS EMAIL
 
Regards.
Mr John Brown

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