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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: "Mrs. Helen Opio" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrs.helenopio@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 6 May 2016 13:18:24 +0100
Subject: MY BELOVED

MY BELOVED,

I want to use my money $3,200,000.00 for a charitable work in
your country that will benefit the less privileged.
I am very sick and my chances of surviving surgery operation
is very slim, according to my doctor's information. And I do
not want the bank to
get hold of my money when I die,because I am a childless
widow. If you can help me do this,
please contact me immediately for more information about me
and how to get to get the fund. I am impatiently
waiting.Please, make sure you
protect this message from the public. I do not want people
to take advantage of this to start contacting me.

I await your reply at my private email: mrs.helenopio@gmail.com
Mrs. Helen Opio

Anti-fraud resources: