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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: DORATHY TAYLOR <dorathytaylor1@att.net>
Reply-To: taylor.dorathy@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Wed, 12 May 2010 15:31:16 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Dear Friend


Dear Friend
 
how are you and your family i hope fine,  I know you will see my letter to you as an embarrassment considering the fact that we do not know ourselves. My names are Mrs.Dorathy Taylor, wife of Late Mr. Frank Taylor who worked with an offshore oil company in Ghana. My Husband died as a result of long time esophageal cancer on August 4th 2005. Since his demise I have been thrown into a state of utter confusion,frustration and hopelessness by my late husband family members and have been subjected to physical and psychological torture by them.

My late husband intended to establish a business Abroad with the sum of $4,900,000:00 (Four Million, Nine Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) but unfortunately he died before this proposed venture could be achieved.  Following his death,his family members insisted that I was not entitled to his property (Assets and money) since I gave birth to only female children as I do not have a male child for my husband,and according to some barbaric traditional laws here in (Africa)which doesn't permit a woman to inherit a mans property,as they are expected by tradition to take over the management of his business and other including myself who automatically becomes a wife to his sibling.

As you read this message they (My inlaws) are unaware that my late husband deposited the money safely with a bank in london uk . Iam the only one aware of this money so I called our family attorney of over 10 years to discuss this matter. We decided to take this money  out of the coffers of this bank to anoher bank away from these people for the purpose of taking care of my children who need education and a future. According to our family lawyer, the best way to secure this money is to transfer this money from its source to a safe account,for safe-keeping, later I can then use it to start a buisness to keep the legacy of my husband alive. I therefore ask for your sincere assistance to help facilitate the movement of these funds. I have decided to give you(25%)of this amount as a reward for your sincere help while 5% will be for the settlement of any expenses made in cause of this transaction.

As soon as I get your positive response,I shall provide you with all the necessary detail for this transfer. I am seriously considering to settle down abroad in a friendly atmosphere like yours as soon as this fund get into your account so that I and my family can start all over again if only you wish to assist. I will await your email. I am most grateful for your understanding.
 
please get back to me with your phone number for eazy communication.
Best regards,
 
Mrs dorathy taylor
 

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