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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: "Michael Terry" <michaelterry97@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 8 Jan 2014 19:32:28 +0100
Subject: Investment Proposal Sir.

Hello Sir,

Actually I am contacting you for a profitable business which I strongly
believe that you can handle for me because of your profession. This letter
may come to you as a surprise since it is coming from someone you have not
met before and due to high volume of Spam mail that goes around the world
through this means, but I have no other choice than to send it to you
through the internet means, Therefore, I will appreciate if you honor it
and give me all your trust and full co-operation. I will complete every
arrangement on how I will successfully move out the amount of money worth
$18M as a consignment to your country through diplomatic means soon. I
will like to invest the money in your area of specialization or any other
profitable business in your country based on your advice after the money
has been cleared.

I am Mr. Michael Terry chairman of a special task force in charge of the
sales of petroleum products . My office monitors the sales and lifting of
crude oil and other petroleum products to foreign dealers.

This money was carefully packaged as a DIPLOMATIC LUGGAGE in such a way
that the Diplomats did not know the content as money, rather he know it as
"VALUABLES" because that was what I registered it with and a certificate
of deposit was issued to me which I will send to you later for your
perusal upon your acceptance to help me in this transaction by meeting
with the diplomat for the clearance of the luggage.

The Diplomats departure and arrival in your country with the consignment
will be made known to you. I need you as a trusted partner that is honest,
that will help me in clearing the consignment in your country.

Please I want you to send to me your full name and address so that my
lawyer will prepare the necessary document for the claim of the
consignment in your name .

I will offer you 40% of the principal capital for your assistance and 5%
will be for any expenses that both of us may incur during this
transaction.

Hope to hear from you as soon as you get this mail.

Thanks and God bless you.

Regards,
Mr. Michael Terry.

Anti-fraud resources: