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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: "Hoffmann B" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrs.elisabethh@aol.com>
Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2020 15:38:29 -0800
Subject: PLEASE I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE

Hello dear,
 
I hope this message hits you in good health, I know this letter will come to you as a surprise, but I beg you to take your time and read it carefully as I write this message from my sickbed. My name is Ms. Elisabeth Hoffmann B, I am a 69-year-old Swiss-American widow, my ancestors are from Switzerland, but I was born and grew up in the USA, I am a very religious Christian. I was struggling with cancer, which is in a very critical phase now, and the medical experts informed me that I only had a few months to live, which was the most painful and difficult time of my life.
 
I have some money that I inherited from my late husband, the $7,8 million deposited on my behalf. unfortunately, my only surviving brother who should have been my next of kin recently dies as a result of complications arising from being afflicted by the coronavirus (COVID 19). That's why I was left with no option but to take my chance and reach out to you. I need you to use this money to start up an  charity organization on my behalf. I don't want to donate this money to already established charity organizations because most of them have proven to enrich themselves instead of doing the actual charity for which they receive donations.
 
But I want to entrust this money to you, so you can use it for charity work under the supervision of my lawyer, I am not legally permitted to appoint my lawyer as a new beneficiary due to the law on the transfer of inheritance and change of fund ownership. That's why I need your help in this matter. I found your email address on the internet after searching and praying to God and asking God to show me the right person. I want to assure you that this is not stolen money, it's clean money and free of any kind of illegality, there is no risk or danger in the process. There will be a proper transfer of ownership that will be handled by my lawyer. You take 25 percent of this money for your personal use then you use 75 percent for the charity foundation.
 
The times are very dire, so I encourage you to observe all the WHO and your country-specific guidelines regarding social distancing, washing and sanitizing of hands and avoid indiscriminate touching of the face. this will ensure that we all stay safe and out of trouble during this pandemic. on my own part, here in the hospital I am also observing and taking all necessary precautions to stay safe as I trust God to make a full recovery from this cancer that has ravaged my body.
 
Your quick response is much appreciated so that I can give you more detailed information.
 
Sincerely yours,
mrs.Elisabeth Hoffmann B

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