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: Vera Erickson <paul@qbcagency.co.uk>
Reply-To: <veraerickson@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2017 02:55:11 -0700
Subject: ATTN; CAN I TRUST YOU?

Hello my Dear
good friend how are you?what i am about to tell you now have been a secret to me but i wish to share it with you to see if you can be faithful and honestwith me and help me , My name is Vera Erickson from United State, i decided to contact you through your email address, I  really  need your assistance.I amasoldier working as United Nations peace keeping troop in Afghanistan,on war against terrorism.I have in my possession the sum of $3.5 million US D Which i made here in Afghanistan. Dear hope you really know the nature of my job? Now dear, last week we went for a patrol, and we discover some money from the Terrorism in Afghanistan. And we have noting to do than to share it among us, and now  i have deposited my  money with a BRITISH AIRWAYS WORLD CARGO.I want you to stand as my beneficiary and receive the fund for me and keep it safe so that as soon as i'm through, you will assist me to INVEST it in a good profitable venture,I WILL give you 40% of the total money for the assistance after you mighty receive
Vera Erickson

Anti-fraud resources: