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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: Elvi Meigh <stmaryhospitalabidjan@gmail.com>
Reply-To: elvimeiggh@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2020 03:43:58 +0200
Subject: Dearest Beloved One,

Dearest Beloved One,

I am Ms. Elvi Meigh, the only daughter of late Mr and Mrs Edward meigh who
was a very wealthy cocoa merchant in Abidjan; the economic capital of Ivory
Coast, my father was poisoned to death by his business associates on one of
their outings on a business trip in France.

My mother died when I was a baby and since then my father took me so
special. Before the death of my father in a private hospital here in
Abidjan he secretly called me on his bed side and told me that he has the
sum of Ten million, five hundred thousand United State Dollars. USD
($10,500,000.00) left in fixed / suspense account in one of the prime bank
here in Abidjan (Ivory Coast) that he used my name as his only child for
the next of Kin in depositing of the fund.

He also explained to me that it was because of this wealth that he was
poisoned by his business associates that I should seek for a foreign
partner in a country of my choice where i will transfer this money and use
it for investment purpose such as real estate management or hotel
management.

Dear, I am honorably seeking your assistance in the following ways:

(1) To provide a bank account into which this money would be transferred to.

(2) To serve as a guardian of this fund since I am only 18years.

(3) To make arrangement for me to come over to your country to further my
education and to secure a resident permit in your
country.

Moreover, i am willing to offer you 20% of the total sum as compensation
for your effort/ input after the successful transfer of this fund into your
nominated account overseas. Furthermore, you indicate your options towards
assisting me as I believe that this transaction would be concluded within
four days you signify interest to assist me.

Anticipating hearing from you soon.

Best regards,

Ms.Elvi Meigh

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