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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: "Maria Adele" <msg2mariadele@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: "Maria Adele" <msg2mariaadele@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2014 04:56:40 -0700
Subject: PLEASE REPLY




From: Mrs. Maria Adele

Greetings to you and your family from my sincere heart. In my search for a reliable and God fearing person and having gotten your contact after prayers and painstaking efforts via searching i made on the Internet on my bed side. Presently, I'm in a hospital where I have been undergoing treatment for Oesophagi Cancer.Recently, my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next 30 days

I am Maria Adele (Mrs), widow to Late Mr. Colonel Michael Adele, former Deputy Defence Attaché to Benin Embassy in Greece. My husband was murdered by those who are envious of his position in the same office.

Before his death he made a vow to use his wealth for the orphanages and less privileged. I requested members of my family to help me in giving of alms to those organizations catering for the Syrian refugees at the hilltop Lebanese town of Arsal; they deceived me and kept the resources to themselves. Hence I do not trust them anymore.

There is this US$4.5 Million cash my late husband deposited with a bank here in Benin Republic. So, Having known my present condition I have decided to donate this money to an individual or better still a God fearing person like you who will utilize it the way I am going to instruct herein.

This is on the condition that you will take 30% of the money for yourself, while you will use the remaining balance for the less privileged people in the society. This is in fulfillment of the last request of my husband.

I do not need any telephone communication in this regard because of my health and because of the presence of my husband's relatives with me here always. I do not want them to know about this development.

I need your honesty and trust. Any delay in your reply will give me room to source for another individual for this same purpose.
If this condition is acceptable to you, You should contact me immediately with your Complete contact information, so that I will put you in contact with the bank for the transfer of the money to any account that you will provide for them.I will also issue you a letter of authority that will empower you as the original beneficiary of the funds, through our family Lawyer.

Yours Sincerely,
Mrs. Maria Adele 

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