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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

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

Fraud email example:

From: van smith <vansmith5@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <vansmith@myway.com>
Date: Tue, 15 May 2007 03:01:00 +0000
Subject: URGENT RESPONSE



From: Van smith,23 Road festac townLagos-NigeriaWest Africa.Hello Dear,
How are you today? Hope that all is well with you.We got your profile after one week fasting and praying and my brotherand i decided to write for an investment in your country / company. Myname is Van Smith from Sierra-Leone. Iam the elder son of Mr.Zac Smith,former Minister of Mines andIndustry. He was killed by rebels on his way to Capital cityFreetown.Before his dealth,he deposited trunk box containing $18.5 million U.SDollars with INTERCON INSURANCE & FINANCE COMPANY LTD for safe keepingandinstruct that I should claim it to look after my self and my youngerbrother John.My Younger brother and I are now in West Africa Lagos Nigeria to notifyclaims of the FUND. I intend to invest this money abroad, hencemy contacting you to advice me how best I can invest this money in your countryand buy a house there.I am 23 years old and my younger brother John is also 20 years and weare in Nigeria since we lost our parents because of the recent war thatoccured in our country.We decided to locate to Nigeria because of my late father depositedthis fund in the custody of Security company before his death and theSecurity company has been given us a reminding notice to provide a foreignbeneficiary /next of kin since we are too little by age tohandle/release such a huge sum of money to us.This is the major reason why we seek for your assistance in helping usto guild us and invest the money in any goodbusiness of your choice.And stand as our Guardian so that the Security company will releasethis fund to you without any delay on my next email to you i will send toyou my pictures for you to know me well and please try to get back tome if you contact them.For assistance my brother and i, we will offer you 20% of the money and10% for any expenses that occur throught the transffering before theinvestment takes over. We have all the proof legal and vital documentscovering the deposit fund and the ownership which I can send on requestto you through DHL service or through email attachment to you, for youto go through it and contact them on our behalf.Send direct phone and fax numbers for more information on your reply.Our regards to your family.I expect your prompt response .Yours Faithfully,Van & John Smith.

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