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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: Tama Bernard <info.inquiry1@gmail.com>
Reply-To: tama.bernard@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 6 Sep 2014 14:15:28 +0700
Subject: Attention Please;


Dear Sir/Madam,

I select your email address from your country website directory and i am
encouraged to reveal my predicament to you.

My names are Mrs. Tama Bernard, and I am living with AIDS. Ever since my
husband, Mr. Bernard Dossou, a wealthy businessman, that died of AIDS and I
was tested positive of the AIDS virus, my late husband’s family relations
wouldn't just let me and my family be.

My only Daughter Mirabelle, 16 yr old have stopped going to school because
she could no longer stand the humiliations from fellow students. The
embarrassments are getting on my nerves but what can I do? I would have
loved to travel out of the country to a place where I will have peace and
spend the rest of my life with my Daughter but I couldn't make it for I am
weak and severely sick.

Moreover, no Embassy would grant me Visa to her country with my hairs
withering and boils all over my body. From all indications, I know that my
days are numbered.

In the light of the above, I have contacted you to assist me to transfer
out of Cotonou, Benin Republic the SUM OF $8.5 MILLION U.S DOLLARS which my
late husband deposited with a Bank for the up-keep of my child, and
safe-keep it for my only Daughter as she will be coming over to your
country in due course to live and school.

According to tradition and culture in our community, If a man die having no
Son, all his properties and wealth will be shared among his family
relatives and nothing will be left for my Daughter, as they are persuading
me to move out from our matrimonial home so that they can sell the house,
and because of that my husband gave this document to me without any one's
consent except his lawyer whose signature appears in the document.

YOU WILL INVEST THIS MONEY FOR MY ONLY DAUGHTER, MIRABELLE IN COMMERCIAL
ESTATE OR ANY BUSINESS OF YOUR CHOICE YOU DEEM HEALTHY. Please if you will
assure me that you will handle my Daughter as yours by given her Good
education, Open bank account for her and give her Parental Care, then I
will release the funds to you so that you can use the money to start the
process before her arrival in your country.

For your effort, I am prepared to give you 30% of the total funds.

I am looking forward to hearing from you while thanking you for your
anticipated cooperation in this regard.

Yours faithfully,
Tama Bernard (Mrs.)

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