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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: "MRS.CLARA FOFANA JONES." <mrsclara_fofana1@yahoo.co.uk> (may be fake)
Reply-To: mrsclara_fofana@walla.com
Date: Mon, 4 Apr 2005 20:42:25 +0000
Subject: REQUESTING INVESTMENT.

MRS. CLARA FOFANA JONES.
TEL: +44 704 0114897
FAX: +44 870 0940362
437 SHERATON STREET,
SOHO LONDON, W1F 8BH,
UNITED KINGDOM.

ATTENTION: SIR,

RE: REQUESTING INVESTMEN.

I AM WRITING ON BEHALF OF A CLIENT WHO WISHES TO
INVEST A LARGE SUM OF MONEY IN YOUR COMPANY.

THE AMOUNT IN QUESTION IS US$5MILLION. IF YOU CAN
HANDLE SUCH A HUGE INVESTMENT, KINDLY GET BACK TO ME
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO ENABLE ME INTRODUCE MY CLIENT
TO YOU.

YOU MAY RESPOND VIA EMAIL OR GIVE ME A CALL THE MOMENT
YOU RECEIVE THIS MAIL.

REGARDS,

MRS. CLARA FOFANA JONES.




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