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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: Ms SANYA <sanyaombudi@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2018 02:28:11 +0300
Subject:

Dear sir,

Sorry for my late reply, it's because of the issue i told you i'm
having with my husband, he seized my laptop again and i just managed
to retrieve it to send you this email, my communications with you
might be slow and inconsistent sometimes because i hide to send you
emails because he monitors me always.I viewed the documents but the
3rd file couldn't download, are you giving me your word and assurance
100% that once i pay the $8,850 dollars the compensation fund ATM card
will be delivered to the hospital address i gave you in Kenya? and
that i can be using the ATM card to be withdrawing cash at any ATM in
Kenya? can i transfer money from the ATM card to my Kenyan bank
account? can i use the ATM card at POS machines in stores? and
remember i told you the delivery agent has to wait for me at the
security post at my hospital entrance and send me a text that he is
there so i can meet him there, i don't want him calling me on phone or
coming inside the hospital because i wouldn't like my husband to know
about him, i hope there won't be problems when i try to withdraw money
from the ATM with the card? like i told you earlier, i'm a Singaporean
married to a Kenyan, we have a private hospital in Kenya and another
hospital in Singapore, so i travel to Singapore often, if i travel to
Singapore can i use the ATM card in Singapore? the limit i can
transfer as a foreigner here from western union or moneygram at once
is $5000 dollars so i will need you to send a second name so i can
split the money in half.

If you receive the money tomorrow can the agent depart Nigeria with
the ATM card the next day? please reply to all these questions
urgently and reassure me and make me clear on all these, if i get your
assurance and the second receiver name i will send the $8,850
tomorrow.

Awaiting your reply.

Mrs Sanya

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