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: "James Westaf" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jameswestaf@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:15:13 -0000
Subject: Update requested

Dear Sir,
Having gone through a methodical search, I decided to contact you hoping that you will find this proposal interesting. Please on your confirmation of this message and indicating your interest, I shall give you information in detail.I understand that through Internet is not the best way to link up with you because of the confidentiality which my proposal demands,and so I  beg your pardon.
I am writing because ,I need your assistance to help secure the sum of 2,500,000GBP (Two Million Five hundred thousand Great British Pounds )
I wish to crave your indulgence, to enable me claim the funds.I am  willing to discuss the sharing modalities and hope to get a favorable response  from you.
I have to stop here now as your response will determine our subsequent corresspondence. Please feel free to dis-regard this proposal if it is not in line with your principles.
For confidential sake respond back through my private email address jameswestaf@ymail.com
Yours sincerely,
James westaf

Anti-fraud resources: