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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: "philipmara" <philipmara@webmail.alfa.com.lb>
Date: Wed, 04 May 2005 12:42:43 +0200
Subject: Philip Marah

Amanda Guest House
Abidjan Cote D'Ivoire.
Tel:Fax:Alternative Email Address.
philipmarah3@yahoo.com
I am Philip marah the only son of late former
Director of finance, Dr George Marah
Sierra-Leone diamond and mining corporation. I must
confess my agitation is real, and my words is my bond,
in this proposal. My late father diverted this money
meant for purchase of ammunition, for my country,
during the peak of disastrous civil war in my country,
now he has deposited the money with a BANK in outside
sierra leone,where I am residing under political Assylum
with my younger sister Glory Marah who is 16 years old.
Now the war in my country is over with the help of
ECOMOG soldiers, the present government of Sierra
Leone has revoked the passport of all officers who
served under the former regime and now ask countries
to expel such person at the same time freeze their
account and confiscate their asset, it is on this note
that I am contacting you, all I needed from you is to
furnish me with your bank particulars:
1) Account name
2) Account number
3) Bank address, telephone and fax number
4) your private telephone /fax numbers
For you to assist me transfer this money in your
private bank account, the said amount is TWENTY ONE
Million Dollars (US$21.000.000.00 Million). I am
compensating you with 10 % of the total money amount,
now all my hope is banked on you and I really wants to
invest this money in your country, were their is
stability of Government, political and economic
welfare.
Honestly I want you to believe that this transaction
is real and never a joke. My late father Dr George
Marah gave me the deposit slip issued to him by
by the BANK on the date of deposit, for you to be clarify
because, I do not expose my self to anybody I see, I
believe that you are able to keep this transaction
secret for me because this money is the hope of my
life, it is important.
Please write me immediately after you might have gone
through my message fill free and make it urgent. That
is the reason why I offered you 10 % of the total
money amount, and in case of any other necessary
expenses you might incure, I am resolving to give you
an addition of 2% during this transaction.
N.B Try and negotiate for me some profitable blue chip
investment opportunities which is risky free which I
can invest with this money when it is transferred to
your account, personally I am interested in estate
management and hotel business, please advise me. And
promise me and my younger sister to be our guardian
considering our situation and not to betray us.
And my late father used me the only son as the
beneficiary / next of kin on the day of deposit and
also told me I need an assistance of a foreigner with
a legitimate bank Account abroad who will stand as
co-beneficiary and partner abroad to ensure a
successful hitch free transfer of the fund abroad.
Thanks and God bless
Yours truly
Philip Marah

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