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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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Fraud email example:

From: "MICHEAL MOSES" <michealmoses@walla.com>
Date: Sat, 23 Oct 2004 03:39:26 +0200
Subject: CO-OPERATION

DEAR SIR/MADAM
PRIVATE BUSINESS DISCUSSIONS
I UNDERTAND THAT EMAIL IS NOT IDEAL FOR AN OFFICIAL BUSINESS PROPOSAL OF THIS NATURE.I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO POST THIS TO YOU BUT WAS CONSTRIANED BY THE LOOMING WAR IN MY COUNTRY.
FIRST OF ALL,MY NAME IS MICHEAL MOSES ALI.I AM A COUSIN TO THE LATE CHEMICAL ALI,WHO WAS KILLED ON SUNDAY,6/4/03 DURING THE WAR IN BASRA BY THE BRITSH ARMY.BEFORE HIS DEATH,HE HANDED OVER IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE DEPOSIT OF THREE TRUNK BOXES CONTAINING A TOTAL SUM OF E35MILLION (THIRTY FIVE MILLION EUROS) IN A SECURITY COMPANY IN AMSTERDAM.HE TOLD ME THAT SHOULD ANY THING HAPPEN TO HIM THAT I SHOULD LOOK FOR A RELIABLE PERSON WHO CAN ASSIST IN RETRIEVING THESE BOXES FROM THE SECURITY COMPANY FOR THE BENEFIT OF HIS WIVES AND CHILDREN.IT IS IN THE COURSE OF MY RESARCHING IN THE INTERNET THAT I CAME ACROSS YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS AND DECIDED TO CONTACT YOU ,HOPING THAT YOU SHALL ACCEPT TO ASSIST IN THIS TRANSACTION.

MY FAMILY AND I HAVE DECIED THAT YOU SHALL BE INTILE TO 30% OF THE TOTAL SUM SHUOLD YOU ASSIST US IN HANDLING THIS TRANSACTION,WHILE THE BALANCE OF 70% SHOULD BE FOR THE FAMILY OF WHICH YOU SHALL BE ASSISTING IN INVESTING IN ANY PROFITABLE BUSINESS IN YOUR COUNTRY.I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HANDLE THIS BY MYSELF BUT DUE TO THE CONDICTION OF THINGS IN MY COUNTRY .
PLEASE RESPOND TO ME URGENTLY SHOULD THIS PROPOSAL MEET YOUR INTEREST OR DISCARD THE LETTER SHOULD YOU FIND IT DISPLEASENT.PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION RELATING TO THIS TRANSACTION SHOULD BE BASED ON EMAIL.THE REASON BEING THE ON GOING WAR IN MY COUNTRY.

ENDEAVOUR TO EMAIL YOUR TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS TO ME .I SHALL EMAIL ALL THE DETAILS OF THIS TRANSACTION TO YOU AS SOON AS I READ FROM YOU,INCLUDING ALL THE DOCUMENTS AND THE SECURITY PIN NUMBERS OF THE BOXES,INCLUDING THE CONTACT ADDRESS OF THE SECURITY COMPANY IN AMSTERDAM TO ENABLE YOU CONTACT THEM AND ARRANGE WITH THEM FOR THE COLLECTION OF THE BOXES.
EXPECTING TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON.
MICHEAL MOSES




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