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.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: MIKE WILLIAMS <mike_williams2010@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 19 Jun 2006 21:39:02 +0100 (BST)
Subject: YOUR URGENT RESPONSE IS NEEDED.


ATTENTION.

I,HAVE ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR E-MAIL RESPONSE.

MEAN WHILE,I WANT LET YOU KNOW THAT THIS TRANSACTION IS LEGAL.

AM,WAITING FOR YOUR URGENT REPONSE,SO THAT I CAN FURNISH YOU WITH THE REQUIRED INFORMATION CONCERNING THE TRANSACTION.

BEST REGARDS.

MR MIKE WILLIAMS.


---------------------------------
The all-new Yahoo! Mail goes wherever you go - free your email address from your Internet provider.

Anti-fraud resources: