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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: Annabel James <annabeljames15@zipmail.com.br>
Date: Sat, 12 Oct 2013 01:08:15 -0300
Subject: IN GOOD FAITH.

DEAREST ONE,

WITH REGARD TO YOUR REPUTATION AND CO-BELIEVER OF GOD WHO WILL NOT DISSAPPOINT ME NOR DENY ME IN FAITH, I AM DIRECTING THIS LETTER OF ASSISTANCE TO YOU.
 
I AM ANNABEL JAMES AM 23 YEARS OLD,FROM THE REPUBLIC OF COTE D'IVOIRE, WEST AFRICA.I LOST MY MOTHER AT VERY YOUNG AGE OF 8, AND BEING THE ONLY CHILD, I HAVE NEITHER BROTHERS NOR SISTERS.I WAS A STUDENT OF FASHION AND DESIGN IN A COLLEGE BEFORE THE UGLY INCIDENT THAT TOOK THE LIFE OF MY FATHER.AND SINCE THEN I HAVE BEEN PASSING THROUGH A VERY DIFFICULT AND PAINFUL PERIOD IN MY LIFE.

MY LATE FATHER DR.GUI LURENT JAMES WHO WAS A FAMOUS COCOA MERCHANT OPERATED HIS COCOA BUSINESS IN COTE D'IVOIRE UNDER PARTNERSHIP BUT UNFORTUNATELLY HIS BUSINESS ASSOCIATES POISONED HIM IN ORDER TO CLAIM HIS WEALTH IN A COCKTAIL PARTY HELD IN HIS HONOUR AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE COMPANY. WHEN HE WAS POISONED, HE WAS RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL.

IT WAS IN THE HOSPITAL THAT HE SECRETLY DISCLOSED TO ME THE CAUSE OF THE SICKNESS AND ALSO HE DEPOSITED THE SUM OF $2.5M (TWO MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS) IN A SUSPENCE ACCOUNT TO A BANK HERE IN COTE D'IVOIRE AND THAT I WAS MADE THE NEXT OF KIN TO INHERIT THE FUND IN HIS RECORD/FILE.
 
HE THEREFORE ADVISED ME TO LOOK FOR A RELIABLE, TRUST WORTHY AND GOD-FEARING PERSON WHO WILL ASSIST ME TO TRANSFER THIS FUNDS ABROAD STRICTLY FOR INVESTEMENT PURPOSES.THIS IS BECAUSE HE DIDN'T WANT HIS ASSOCIATES TO RAISE AN EYEBROW ON HIS FUND.HE ALSO ADVISED ME TO AVOID HIS ASSOCIATES WHO WILL BE RUNNING AFTER MY LIFE, HE FINALLY DIED IN THE HOSPITAL AFTER FEW DAYS OF ADMISSION.

I AM SOLICITING FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE TO SAFEGUARD MY INTEREST TO TRANSFER THE FUND INTO YOUR ACCOUNT FOR AN INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND TO FUTHER MY STUDIES OVER THERE IN YOUR COUNTRY. I HOPE TO TRAVEL WITH YOU TO YOUR COUNTRY AFTER A SUCCESSFULL TRANSFER OF THESE FUNDS. I WILL GIVE YOU THE CONTACT OF THE BANK AS SOON AS YOU SHOW YOUR INT EREST AND WILLINGNESS TO ME.YOUR SUGGESTION AND IDEA WILL BE FINE FOR ME AND I WILL GIVE YOU FULL DETAILS OF THE FUND AS SOON AS I RECEIVE YOUR REPLY. THIS TRANSACTION IS CONFIDENTIAL.
 
THANKS FOR YOUR KIND ASSISTANCE
 
YOURS SINCERELY
ANNABEL JAMES.
 

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