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: "Mr. William Linger" <linger2@office-1.info>
Reply-To: <william_linger@yahoo.com.my>
Date: Sun, 24 Jan 2016 15:36:46 -0400
Subject: HELP IN DISTRIBUTING FUNDS TO THE POOR AND NEEDY

HELP IN DISTRIBUTING FUNDS TO THE POOR AND NEEDY

>From Mr. William Linger

This letter may come to you as a surprise, but I have to say that I
have no intentions of putting you into any form of stress or worries.
As you read this, I don't want you to feel sorry for me because I
believe everyone will die someday.

My name is Mr. William Linger, a business tycoon based in British
Virgin Islands. I have been diagnosed with prostate and esophageal
Cancer that was discovered very late due to my laxity in caring for my
health. It has defiled all form of medicine and right now, I have only
about just few months to live according to medical experts. I have not
particularly lived my life so well, as I never really cared for anyone
not even myself or my family but my business.

Though I am very rich, I was never caring, I was always hostile to
people and only focus on my business as that was the only thing I ever
cared for. But now I regret all this, as I now know that there is more
to life than just wanting to have or make all the money in the world.
I believe if God gives me a second chance to come to this world I
would live my life a different way from how I have lived it. Since the
announcement of the diagnosed with prostate and esophageal Cancer and
the time I have to stay on earth, I have decided to give alms to
charity organizations, as I want this to be one of the last good deeds
I do on earth.

So far, I have distributed money to some charity organizations here in
British Virgin Islands and also in Indonesia, and some African
Countries. Now that my health has deteriorated so badly, I cannot do
this my self any more. I once asked members of my family to close one
of my accounts in Bulgaria and donate the money to charity
organization in Bulgaria, they connived and instead kept the money to
themselves. Hence, I do not trust them anymore, as they seem not to be
contended with what I have left for them and others, they stole from
me.

The last of my money, which is the huge cash deposit that I have with
a Financial Firm abroad. I will want you to help me collect this
deposit and distribute it to charity organizations in your country and
let them know that I Mr. William Linger is making this generous
donation. I am writing this from my laptop computer in my hospital bed
where I wait for my time to come. I pray that God uses you to support
and assist me with good heart.

As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the
Bank and how much I deposited there. I will also issue you a Letter of
Authority that will empower you as the original beneficiary of this
fund. My happiness would be if my last wish is obeyed. Please always
be prayerful all through and try as much as possible to learn from my
lessons in your life.

Also, please assure me that you will act just as I have stated herein.
Hope to hear from you soon and God bless you and members of your
family. Contact me through my private e-mail
(william_linger@yahoo.com.my). I am waiting for your reply and God be
with you.

Regards,

Mr. William Linger.

Anti-fraud resources: