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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: "Gen. John R. Allen" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <john.allenn1900@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 8 Jan 2017 19:21:35 -0000
Subject: RE:REPLY/URGENTLY.

Good Day
 
It was very nice coming in contact with you I know that the content of this message may sound odd to you when reading but I wish to confirm in all honestly that everything you are about to read is truth and Genuine.
While on an official duty in Libya in 2011 during the unrest in Libya against the former ruler Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, in the house of his defense Minister Abu Bakr Yunis Jabr, Myself and another officer came across some fortune (funds) and Gold bars loaded in cases.
 
Due to delicate nature of the country during the war, we were very careful but still did a little to secure some of the money for myself and some Gold bars, then on one of my trip to Belgium for an official duty, I managed to move this money and Gold bars to U.K  which I later deposited with a security firm and declared the contents as family treasure meant to be transferred to a family friend, though I never gave any name or contact of intended recipient.About a week ago, I got an email message from the security company, informing me that the deposited boxes will be confiscated and declared unclaimed
 
deposit and surrendered to the security treasury if they did not hear from me before the end of this month and as things stands now, I cannot abandon my duty here in Afghanistan, hence I started to search for a trustworthy person whom I can communicate with this info and the person can work with me for the release of the boxes containing the fund and Gold and transfer them to your country after which I shall join you when am free from duty but I wouldn't like to transfer them to any relatives or to my State, not at all, it must be some where else.
 
I will give more details on the amount in the box and the quantity of the Gold when you reply with interest. Please contact me with this Email:john.allenn1900@gmail.com
Best Regards
General John R. Allen

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