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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: "Charles Vandi." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <akins2008@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 9 Oct 2016 09:44:22 +0100
Subject: LETTER OF MANDATE.

Dear Friend,
 
Please, permit me to go straight to the point without observing the preambles. After days of battling with some deep thoughts, I finally accepted a request from a high profiled foreign detainee in the Executive Awaiting Trial-Detention here in the Federal correction facility. Rumors have it that his detention was politically driven, as a top financier of the then ruling political party, the opposition as it were having won the elections is now trying to make a ridicule of his image. I also gathered from a source that the detainee started as a War-Zone Diamond merchant and his business empire across the globe is estimated at $450,000,000. 00.
 
For security reasons, I lack the courage to unveil details of the given mandate and other vital information such as names, location, nationalities, amount, phone number, until your maximum interest and acceptance to this venture is ascertained. As an assistant chief of a correction facility, I am bound by the public service rules to having an offshore account of which is a key instrument that will enable me facilitate my mandate as requested and would need your collaboration. I deeply apologize for contacting you with an unsolicited offer that raises the suspicion of a bogus deal which is commonly found on e-business platforms.
 
Giving by his mouth-watering remunerations, I stumbled on the virtual world to seek your urgent assistance with a pledge of mutual gains at the end. Be rest assured that your participation will not by any means foster you to violate the laws and your safety in the process of this venture and in the future is guaranteed. I will appreciate your feedback If you are interested to know about the mandate and the role you would play, please keep this foremost thoughts confidential If you find it repulsive to accept.
 
Thanks in anticipation, I look forward to rearing from you at your earliest convenience.
 
Best Regards,
 
Charles Vandi.
Senior Prison Officer.

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