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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: "Madam catherine David" <info@mail.com>
Reply-To: sos.catherinedavid@9.cn
Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:30:01 +0700
Subject: READ

Lady Catherine David.
4 Old Church Street,
Chelsea, SW3,
England.

Good day to you. I humbly wish to introduce myself to you through this
Medium though it has been abused by people against the initial
anticipation and intent of the inventors. I'm pleased for contacting you
to help my husband's dream come true.I am Lady Catherine David, suffering
from cancerous ailment. I am married to Engineer Silas David an Englishman
who is dead. My husband was in private practice all his life before his
death.Our life together as man and wife lasted for three decades without a
child. My husband died after a protracted illness. My husband and I made a
vow to uplift the down-trodden and the less-privileged individuals as he
had passion for persons who cannot help themselves due to physical
disability or financial predicament. When my late husband was alive he
deposited the sum of 3 Million[Three Million Great Britain Pounds
Sterling] in 2 boxes which were derived from his vast estates and
investment in capital market with a Finance/Security Company here in UK.
Presently, this money is still with the Security company.

Recently, my Doctor told me that I have limited days to live due to the
cancerous problems I am suffering from. Though what bothers me most is the
stroke that I have in addition to the cancer. With this hard reality that
has befallen my family, and me I have decided to donate this fund to you
and want you to use this gift which comes from my husbands effort to fund
the upkeep of widows, widowers, orphans, destitute, the down-trodden,
physically challenged children, barren-women and financially handicapped
people.I took this decision because I do not have any child that will
inherit this money and my husband relatives are bourgeois and very wealthy
persons and I do not want my husband's hard earned money to be misused or
invested into ill perceived ventures.As soon as I receive your reply I
shall give you the contact of the finance/Security Company here in uk. I
will also issue you a Letter of Authority that will empower you as the
original beneficiary of this fund. Hope to hear from you soon and God
bless you and members of your family. Please reply me through my lawyer:
sos.catherinedavid@9.cn

Yours Faithfully,
Madam catherine David





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