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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: "M.M.El-Majidi" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mmelmajidii@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 19 Aug 2016 06:08:02 +0800
Subject: Re: AWAITING YOUR URGENT RESPONSE


Good day,
I’m writing you, hoping you will be a confidant after you have heard my proposition.
To be brief, I was recently among people who were found to own accounts in panama. Now due to me being a hierarchy official in my country’s government, my liquid assets in panama has been confiscated thus making things become difficult for me. I’ve been under intense pressure and scrutiny since this development and I’ve run out of options.
My problem now is that I have liquid assets in a financial institution in Asia which I’m scared I might lose again if discovered. So I’m contacting you to aid me in moving this liquid assets safely to any trusted institution in your name. Upon agreement by us and successful transfer, you will deduct 20% of the total sum.
The reason I contacted you specifically is because I need someone that is not known as my associate because since this development all my relatives and close friends has been under scrutiny.
If you agree, then I need your complete honesty, discretion and confidentiality. And in my subsequent emails I will give you a detailed information of everything you need for us to achieve this goal. My major concern with you will be trust and also if you are capable of handling a huge amount in excess of 150,xxx,xxx.
But if you decide not to partake in this with me, then I respect your decision and I only ask that you do not disclose this to anyone.
Thanks.
Respectfully.
M.M.El-Majidi

Anti-fraud resources: