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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.

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

Fraud email example:

From: HOWELL MO <homau806@gmail.com>
Reply-To: howellmrs002@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 16 Apr 2021 12:39:28 +0100
Subject: GREETING IN THE NAME OF GOD

Dear Friend


Greetings to you.

I'm Mrs Maureen Howell from London, a 76 years old widow with cancer. I
got your email ID from your country's guestbook while searching for a
reliable person whom I can confide in, I will like to share a private
information with you and I will appreciate if you contact me through my
email and furnish me with your information such as Name, Sex, Age, Marital
Status, Contact Address, Phone Number: to enable me write a letter of
authorization on your behalf to the bank First inland bank Nig plc so that
they can transfer my funds to your account for the purpose of helping the
poor as indicated on my WILL

Sincerely Yours,

Mrs.Maureen Howell
(London Uk)

Anti-fraud resources: