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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: "Thomas Eso." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <akins2008@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 12 Sep 2016 08:26:10 +0100
Subject: DEAR OLD FRIEND.

Dear Old Friend,
I find it quite difficult to retrieve your email address having disabled my old mailbox after you developed apathy in our pending transaction as it were. 
 
I write to inform you that my plans to warehouse the funds for investment purpose was later actualized as the bank did eventually release funds. I understood that you could not pay some upfront charges required because of the fear of being scammed. I still value the role you played at the preliminary stage which geared the swift approval of the fund transfer and of course, the financing role by a new partner afterwards. I have decided to compensate you with the sum of US$1,000,000.00 (One Million United States Dollars) for your efforts that made my success story possible today.
You are therefore advice to notify my senior special assistant as he has been advised to see to the release of your US$1M. My initial arrangement with you was to invest the funds in your country as soon as the transaction is successful; I decided to invest in cocoa farming/coffee export to China, and diamond export to Europe which is my core investment. In addition to the US$1M, I shall introduce your name on the payroll where you will be earning a good retirement dividend income.
Contact my account officer with the below information*******
Contact Name: Wang Lee.
Email: safehouse19600@gmail.com.
Address: Stationsplein, 2072 AB Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Be advised to direct further inquires to him as he is looking forward to hearing from you.
Thanks for your understanding.
Cheers!!
Thomas Eso.

Anti-fraud resources: