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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

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

Fraud email example:

From: Mellisa Otidi <makedaminottwife@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Mellisa Otidi <mellisaotidi2019@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 18 Jan 2020 17:45:27 +0900 (JST)
Subject: With Due Respect,


With Due Respect,

Nice to Meet You, I pray this message reaches you in the best of health and imam. I am writing this mail to you with tears and sorrow from my heart, I humbly write to solicit for your partnership and assistance in the transfer and investment of my inheritance funds ($7.5 M) Seven Million Five Hundred thousand United State dollars from my late father who died mysteriously.

I am Miss. Mellisa Otidi, 21 years Old girl, Am only child of my late parents Mr. and Mrs. Otidi. I got your contact email from international domain database and I decided to contact you for this offer, that is based on trust and you’re outstanding.

I need your assistance in transferring the fund to your account for investments purpose. This transaction is 100% legal and risk free on both sides hence you are going to follow my instruction till the fund is transferred and secured into your account.

It was very evident that my father was poisoned to death. In my culture, when a man dies, if he does not have a male child, thebrother takes his property leaving the wife and the daughters empty handed.
This is the exact case with me as I am the only daughter, I lost my mother when I was barely a year old and my father refused tore-marry despite all persuasion by friends and relatives, because he felt solely responsible for my mother's death, as he only concentrated on his business that he rarely pays attention to family affairs, He ensured that I will had everything that I wanted. It was as a result that he made me the next of kin to his fund deposit with the bank and stated that in the event of any eventuality, I should have a direct access to the funds only when I am 25 years otherwise, I should have a guardian to intercede on my behalf for the release of the funds to me for investments purpose. Unlucky he passes away and I wanted to transfers the fund to oversee for investments purpose due to my current situation.
Best regard
Miss. Mellisa Otidi

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