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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: "Yingyan Lin." <alejvinza2@gmail.com>
Reply-To: yingyan461@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2020 15:33:50 +0100
Subject: Can I trust You?

Hello Dear,

As you read this, I don't want you to feel sorry for me, because, I
believe everyone will die someday. My name is Yingyan Lin a merchant
in China and Dubai. I have been diagnosed with COVID-19.It has defiled
all forms of medical treatment, and right now I have only about a few
weeks to live, according to medical experts. I have not particularly
lived my life so well, as I never really cared for anyone (not even
myself) but my businesses.

Though I am very rich, I was never generous,I was always hostile to
people and only focused on my business as that was the only thing I
cared for. But now I regret all this as I now know that there is more
to life than just wanting to have or make all the money in the world.
I believe when God gives me a second chance to come to this world I
would live my life in a different way from how I have lived it.

Now that God has called me, I have willed and given most of my
property and assets to my immediate and extended family members as
well as a few close friends. I want God to be merciful to me and
accept my soul so,I have decided to give also to charity
organizations, as I want this to be one of the last good deeds I do on
earth. So far, I have distributed money to some charity organizations
in the U.A.E, Algeria, Malaysia and some countries in Africa.

Now that my health has deteriorated so badly, I cannot do this myself
anymore. I had recently asked members of my family to close one of my
accounts and distribute the money which I have there to charity
organization in Bulgaria and Pakistan, they refused and kept the money
to themselves. Hence, I do not trust them anymore, as they seem not to
be contented with what I have left for them. The last of my money
which no one knows of is the huge cash deposit of Thirteen Million One
hundred and Fifty Thousand United States Dollars Only.
($13,150,000,00) that I have with a Financial Holding Firm abroad.

I will want you to help me collect this deposit and dispatched it to
charity organizations. I have set aside 10% for you, your time and
also any expenses incurred during this assignment. God be with you.

God bless you greatly.

Regards,
Yingyan Lin.

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