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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: Esther Williams <esther.williams1@sify.com>
Reply-To: esther.williams@sify.com
Date: Fri, 21 May 2010 12:30:02 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: My Beloved One,


My Beloved One,
 
I am Esther Williams David, 23 years old Girl Originated from Southern Sudan, I really want to have a good relationship with you, i know this mail might come to you as a surprise because you don’t know me, but due to unsolicited nature of my situation here i decided to contact you for help, please bear with me, My late father was the formal deputy general manager with CNPC Oil Company at Khartoum refinery in Southern Sudan and was killed alongside with my beloved mother during the last crisis in my country when Janjaweed militant came to our house, and that was what sent me away from my country as i made my escape only by God's special grace, you can read more about me Country in
 
(bbcnews.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6469857.stm)
 
After the death of my beloved father my wicked step mother along with my uncles team together and sold every thing that my late father had and share the money within themselves, one faithful morning as i was cleaning my late father’s room i opened my father's briefcase and found some documents which he use to deposit the sum of Five Million Six Hundred Thousand United State Dollars ($5.600,000)  in Eco Bank of Burkina Faso West Africa with my name as the next of kin, i travelled to Burkina Faso to withdraw the money so that i can start a better life and take care of my younger brother,

On my arrival to the Bank, the Branch manager whom i met in person told me that my status here in Burkina Faso can not allow me clam the money as a refugee, but through an appointed representative as the united refugee law governing refugee all over the world and my father's instruction to the bank was the money be release to me only when i am married or present a trustee who will help me stand on my behalf and invest the money overseas.
 
 
 Actually in search of an honest and reliable person who will help me withdraw the money and invest it, i have chosen to contact you after my prayers and i believe you will not try to cheat me but rather take me as your own people, though you may wonder why i am so soon giving in to you without seeing you, well i will say that my instincts still tells me that you could be true to me, Briefly, I will like to disclose much to you if you will help me to relocate to your country with the substance that i inherited from my parent which i will like to invest in your country into any lucrative business venture which you are to advise and execute seeing that i have no business experience for now.
 
 However, I shall forward to you with the necessary deposit information and the Bank account number on confirmation of your acceptance to assist me for the transfer and investment of the fund, as you manage the money in any investment, and i will like to complete my studies which is the most important thing to me, as i was in my fist year in the university, when the crisis started, It is my intention to compensate you with 20% of the total money for your services and the balance shall be my capital investment, this is the reason why i decided to contact you, please all communications should be through this email address only for confidential purposes.
 
As soon as i receive your positive response showing your interest i will put things into action, in the light of the above, I shall appreciate an urgent message indicating your ability and willingness to handle this transaction, awaiting your urgent and positive response, Please do keep this only to your self, i beg you not to disclose it till i come over because of enemies, i will send you my picture in my next mail, with due respect, i am pleading that you help me, i am giving all this detailed information with every transparency believing that you will have a clear picture of the base of help i need from you, I hope to hear from you soon, May truth and love be the guiding word in my refuge,
 
Yours Sincerely Esther.





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