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: "Mr.Kenn James" <mr.kennjames@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 05 Sep 2008 19:41:19 -1200
Subject: Is Me Kenn James

From: Mr.Kenn James
STOCK EXCHANGE HOUSE
(8th, 9th, & 11th Floors)
2/4 Customs Street,
Victoria Island Lagos


Attn:

I am Mr.Kenn James an auditor with the Nigeria Exchange. I
discovered an unclaimed investment of $7.5 Million and
this investment belongs to our late
client who happens to be an American.

I have all it takes to have this fund remitted to your
account as next of kin to our late investor. All legal
procedures for approval and payment of this fund into your
account through correspondent bank in London will be
adhered to. If you accept my proposal 40% will be yours
while 60%
will be mine. I await your anticipated acceptance. Via
email ID Email:

Regards.
Mr.Kenn James


Anti-fraud resources: