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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: Williams Smith <w_simth011@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: w_smith012@yahoo.com.ph
Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2011 12:03:14 -0400
Subject: Greetings From Williams Smith



From Williams Smith
Abidjan-Cote d'Ivoire

Dear Sir/Madam,

Good day to you. I am Williams Smith the Son of the late assassinated
senator in Zimbabwe Mr. Marume Smith, I saw your impressive profile on
the internet and after much prayers, I was moved to contact you
believing that you can be relied on to handle a very important
business transaction on behalf of my family. but presently I am in
Abidjan, capital city of Ivory Coast in West Africa for some months
now. My mother Mrs. Tabitha Marume, was shot and killed by soldiers at
Chiwetu Rest Camp, Percy Muchiwa, for more verification, here is the
web site www.allafrica.com/stories/200805010665.html

I want you to assist me withdraw and transfer my dad money the sum of
(US$8.5M) which he deposited in one of the prime bank based here in
Ivory Coast into your account in your country and also take me out of
here that had made me orphan. Why I contacted you was that I went to
the bank to withdraw this money since my late father use my name as
the next of kin to the deposit but I was told by the bank that my late
father made an agreement with them that I have to get to the age of
25years before I can make claim of the money or alternatively I should
provide a guardian who can make the claim on my behalf and that was
why I contacted you. I humbly need your assistance in the following
ways:

1) To help get this money transferred to you.
2) To serve as the guardian and foreign beneficiary of the deposited money
3) To make an arrangement for me to come over after this money is transferred.
4) To look for a good venture where the money will be invested.
5) I am ready to compensate you with 25% for your effort transferring
the money to your account.

Please I need your urgent response, for me not to look for another
person to transfer the money in his or her account and I am urgently
waiting your response so that I can not look for another foreign
partner as I said.

Thank you and May God bless you and your dear family.

Yours sincerely

Williams Smith


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