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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: Thani Edi <ezjeyozew@rkmail.ru>
Reply-To: thaniedi17@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 16 Dec 2016 17:50:13 +0300
Subject: Seasons Greetings to you

Dear friend,
It is a real pleasure for me to contact you, please do not be offended by receiving this email because we did not know before. I'll start by
introducing myself. I am Barr. Thani Edi, a lawyer by profession and the personal attorney of your late cousin with the same name you bear.
On April 21th 2008, my client, his wife and their only son had a car accident, which claimed their life.
Since this incident happened, I tried to contact a family member of my late client so I fall on you. I contact you to repatriate it’s fund’s
valued US$12 Million (deposited in a bank) by my late client.
I want your consent to present you as next of kin of the deceased since you bear the same Surname, so that the bank will transfer the fund to your
bank account in your country as the new beneficiary. After the successful transfer of the fund into your bank account, we will share the fund, 50% for
you and 50% for me.
On acceptance to cooperate for the transaction, I kindly plead you to furnish me with your ID information:
Name: ....................................................
Surname: .................................................
Nationality: .............................................
Sex: .....................................................
Age: .....................................................
Occupation: ..............................................
Marital Situation: .......................................
Private Phone & Fax Numbers: .............................
Please reply for more information.
Sincerely,
Lawyer. Thani Edi

Anti-fraud resources: