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: "MARIANA TINIRAU" <mrs.mariana2010@outlook.fr>
Reply-To: "MARIANA TINIRAU" <mrs.mariana2010@yahoo.fr>
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 2014 10:50:59 -0700
Subject: Greeting



Greeting

I know that this letter may be a very big surprise to you,but please consider it a divine wish and accept it with a deep sense of humility. I am giving you my trust And wish you will give me back the trust i have given you. I believe that you will be Honest to fulfill my final wish before I will die.

I am Mrs.Mariana Tinirau from France. I currently undergoing medical treatment here Cote d'Ivoire, I am 59 years old, I am suffering from a long time Cancer of the breast.
From all indication my condition is really deteriorating, and my Doctors have courageously advised me that I may not live beyond next month, this is Because the cancer stage has reached a critical stage.
I was brought up in a Motherless baby's home, and was married to my late husband for twenty years Without a child. My husband and I are true Christians, but quite unfortunately, he Died in a fatal motor accident.

Since his death I decided not to re-marry, my late husband Deposited the sum of $6. 650, 000.00 US Dollars with a bank of abidjan.
Presently, this Money is still in bank custody, and the management just wrote me as the legitimate Depositor to inform me of the maturity date of my deposit or rather issue a letter of Authorization to somebody to receive it on my behalf since I can not come over as a Result of my illness, or they get it confiscated.

It is my last wish to see that this money is been invested into a very good LUCRATIVE VENTURE of your choice that will be giving out proceeds to be distributed each year Among the charity organization, the poor and the motherless baby's, orphanage Homes and widows around.
I must let you know that this was a very hard decision, But I had to take a bold step towards this issue because I have no further option.

I hope you will help me see that my last wishes come true.


Yours in Christ,
Mrs.Mariana Tinirau

Anti-fraud resources: