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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: "Miss Michelle Darlington" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <michelledarlington1@hotmail.fr>
Date: Fri, 30 Sep 2016 21:45:28 -0400
Subject:

Dearest One

Please pardon me if my mail has startled you, since we don't know each other I am Miss Michelle Darlington the only daughter of late Mr Alexander Darlington. I had been a female Medical student of the University of Accra Ghana in West Africa before My late father Mr Alexander Darlington died and left me and my mother Mrs Sarah Darlington. I am 21 years old ,

My late father Mr Alexander Darlington owns many companies here in Abidjan Ivory Coast before he died which he left for my mother Mrs Sarah Darlington. Within a year of my late father's death, my Mother Mrs Sarah Darlington was killed by hired killers, after my mother was killed, my late father's lawyer called me to hand over my late father's documents to me, after my father's lawyer have handed over the documents to me, my uncle started demanding for the Documents of my late father's wealth and properties.

I have now called my fathers lawyer, he came and told my uncle that my father made a Will/testament that all his properties belongs to me. After my fathers lawyer have made that statement my uncle started fighting against me to an extend he went and arranged for hired killers to kill me and my younger brother.

The first time they came to our home when I wasn't around, my younger brother Emmanuel was shot and two of our security men was killed also before the police men came, they had escaped, that made me to park out of my fathers compound for peace and security of my life also i thought it will be over that way but it continue happening, that makes me to stop going to school.Because i am afraid let something not happen to me in school premises,That is the reason why i contacted you as an honest person so that you will help me in transferring my late fathers money into your bank account.

The said fund is ($6.5 Million United States Dollar) Six Million Five hundred thousand US dollar which he had earlier confided in me was for the establishment of a medical establishment overseas,the money has been deposited into one of the banks here in Abidjan Ivory Coast, I will offer 15% of the total amount to you for your help in transferring of this fund successfully to your account, and after transferring the money i can come over to your country and continue my life and education, while you assist me invest my money in a very good lucrative business in your country.

Thanks for your understanding and May God bless You as you help me in this transaction.
Michelle Darlington

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