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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: Causanille Rovira <rovira121@homeofficeonline.org>
Reply-To: causanillerovira11@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 16 May 2016 19:48:41 GMT
Subject: Hello

Greetings to you.
this letter may be a very big surprise to you.
  I am Mrs. Causanille Rovira Maria Jose, I am 60 years  old Woman suffering from a long time cancer of the  breast. From all indication my condition is really deteriorating, and my doctors have courageously  advised me that I may not live beyond next month; this is because the cancer stage has reached a critical  stage.
 
  I am from Spain, but i resided with my husband in  west Africa, Presently, I'm undergoing treatment  United Kingdom. I have since lost my ability to talk loud and my doctors have told me that I have only a few months to live, except if am willing to undergo another surgery.
 
I was brought up in a motherless baby's home, and was married to my late husband for many years without child. my husband was a very successful business man in Gold, but Unfortunately my husband died in a fatal Auto accident. Since his death I decided not to re-marry, I sold most of my inherited belongings and
deposited all the sum of $1.900.000.00 Million US Dollars with a Bank.
 
Presently, this money is still in their custody, and the management just wrote me as the legitimate depositor to inform me of my deposit or rather issue a letter of authorization to somebody to receive it on my behalf since I cannot come over as a result of my illness, or the fund will be confiscated.
 
It is my last WISH to see that my fund is invested into CHARITY work of your choice and proceeds distribution among charity organization, the motherless baby's orphanage homes.
 
I must let you know that this was a very hard decision, but I had to take a bold step towards this issue because I have no further option. I hope you will help see my last wishes come true.
As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the Bank. I will also issue you a letter of authority, which will prove that you are the new beneficiary of my funds. Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated herein.
 
Hope to hear from you soonest.
 
Yours Faithfully,
Causanille Rovira Maria Jose

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