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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: Zarani <kzarani@freemail.hu>
Reply-To: Zarani <patriciapat@163.com>
Date: Thu, 15 May 2014 10:51:13 +0100 (BST)
Subject: URGENT RESPONSE NEEDED




 
Greetings

I know that this letter may be a very big surprise to you, and I believe that you will be honest to fulfill my final wish before I will die.

I am Mrs.Zarani Halima, I am 58 years old, and 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 with only one surviving daughter and she is under-age. My husband was Avery successful business man in Gold, but unfortunately my husband died in a fatal Auto accident.

Since his death I decided not to re-marry, I sold all my inherited belongings and deposited all the sum of $6.3million dollars with a Financial Company.

Presently, this money is still in their 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 cannot come over as a result of my illness, or they get it confiscated.

I am from FRANCE, but I resided with my husband in West Africa, but Presently, presently in ivory coast country receiving treatment,where i have been undergoing treatment in the hospital. I have since lost my ability to talk loud and my doctors have told me that I have only a few months to live.It is my last wish to see that my fund is invested in any charity organization of your choice and proceeds distribution among the charity organization,the motherless baby's orphanage homes.

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 see my last wishes come true. As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the Financial Company. I will also issue you a letter of authority, which will prove that you are the new beneficiary of my funds.

Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated herein. Hope to hear from you soonest.

Please kindly write me
Yours Faithfully,
Mrs.Zarani Halima

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