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: "John Armstrong" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <johnarmsstrong24@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 18 Sep 2017 17:53:44 -0000
Subject: Re: Reply..

Hello Dear, I am very sorry to contact you in this manner. I got your email address on Business Directory on Internet, Let me introduce myself to you. My name is John Armstrong an Account Officer with a Financial Firm. I am seeking your urgent assistance and trust to stand as Next of Kin to my late client who leave behind funds/inheritance of ( Ten Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars ) and I want this funds to be transfer into your bank account for Investment purpose. This transaction is 100 % Legitimate and Genuine, No risk involved. Kindly get back to me if you are interested in this proposal. Also send me your direct cell phone number and send me email on johnarmsstrong24@gmail.com
Best regards
John Armstrong
 
 

Anti-fraud resources: