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: Becky Alton <altonb@outlook.fr>
Reply-To: Becky Alton <becky.alton@aol.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2014 12:14:36 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: It is Urgent


 It is Urgent

Dearest Beloved,
With Due Respect and Humanity, Let me first of all inform you, I got your email address from a mail Directory and decided to mail you for a permission to go ahead. I am Mrs. Becky Alton from United Kingdom. I am married to Mr. Albert Alton who worked with a construction company in Asia for twenty Years.

Before he died in the tsunami disasters, we were married but without any children. I am now suffering from long time breast Cancer and Cancer of the lungs, from all indication my condition is really deterioration and it is quite obvious that I won't live more than 2 months according to my doctor, this is because the cancer stage has gotten to a very bad stage Since his death I decided not to re-marry.

I deposited the sum of Nine million United States dollars ($9, Million Dollars) with security company unknown to the company that the box which I deposited with them contained the amount of US$9 million, And now I am willing to donate this sum of $9 million to the less privileged and to contribute to development of church or Mosque in, America, Arab, Africa, Asia, and Europe. My late husband was a very wealthy and after his death, I inherited all his business and wealth, presently this money is concealed in a box with the company.

And they have now asked that I come forward to collect the box or they will confiscate it but now I cannot go to the company for collection due to my health. They also said I rather Issue a letter of authorization to somebody to receive it on my behalf if I cannot come over. I am presently in a hospital where I have been undergoing treatment Cancer of the lungs, I have since lost my ability to walk and my doctors have told me that I have only a few months to Live. Please I want you to note that this money is lying in the security company I want a person that is trustworthy that will utilize 80% of this money to fund churches, orphanages and widows around the world but in my name "Becky Alton"As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the company.

I will also issue you a letter of authority that will prove you as the new beneficiary of this deposited consignment containing the money. Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated herein and Keep this contact confidential till such a time this consignment delivered to your country, this is to ensure that nothing jeopardizes my last wish on Earth. Thanks and God bless you I await your urgent reply.
Regards,
Mrs. Becky Alton.

Anti-fraud resources: