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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: "Mr. Lincoln Brown" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <lincolbrawn@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2017 09:12:14 -0000
Subject: Re: ok

Hello Dear,
 
I am writing you this email from the dictates of my instinct, this is a personal email directed to you and I request that it should be treated as such. I believe that life is all about chances and utilization of opportunities that comes our way. It's obvious we don't know each other yet, but we don't know why nature is crossing our path today, meeting new people in our lives is a never-ending circle.
 
I want to seek your assistance and partnership to receive a transfer sum of $18m (Eighteen million United States Dollars) into your personal offshore bank account, out of which you have 40% ($7.2 million) as your own share. Get back to me with your full name and a reachable mobile phone for further details if you can handle a deal of this nature.
 
Yours sincerely,
Mr. Lincoln Brown
HSBC bank London
External Auditor/Consultant

Anti-fraud resources: