joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
 Free trial for 30 days
   jwSpamSpy
Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "mr johnhouseni" <johnhouseni_30@yahoo.co.in> (may be fake)
Reply-To: johnhouseni_29@yahoo.co.in
Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2005 19:39:37 +0200
Subject: i want your co_oprate urgent assitance.



Hello Dear,
In view of my difficulties and problems in this country, I'm so pleased to have found someone like you in whom I can confide or at least talk to. My name is john houseni, a Liberian. I am here in Senegal as a refugee. I arrived here a year ago during the peak of our national crises (civil war) My father, Edward houseni was a military personel in the rebel camp. While serving in the Army, he deposited the sum of seven million one Hundred thousand USD cash($ 7.1 million us dollars cash) to my mother for my life inheritance.In a finance and security company here in Dakar Senegal.
He (my father) drowned in a river while attempting to cross during a battle with the government troops. I'm using this opportunity pleading for you to help me retrieve this money and transfer it into your account pending when I will come over to your country for investment. You will be compensated for all your efforts in actuallising this transaction with 15 percent of the total sun involved.
I expect your response immediately you receive tthis proposal.
I wait to hear from you soon through this email johnhouseni10@yahoo.co.in Thanks
Yours Sincerely,
John Houseni



Anti-fraud resources: