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: "Mrs. Rose Hamilton" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrsrosehamilton125@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2022 05:50:34 -0800
Subject: <B><I>Dear beloved friend,</B></I></DIV>

Dear beloved friend,
 
Firstly I am deeply and truly sorry for my manner of approach for the fact that we do not know, I write to request for your acknowledgement in making you the sole (main) beneficiary to my charity foundation and I hope I can trust you well enough to carry out this project when I am gone.
 
My only daughter was among the victims of the 9/11 attack She died in the world trade center where she worked on Sept. 11, 2001. I'm a 69yrs old woman living with cancer which has defiled all treatment.
 
Life sometimes is miserable and in some cases, we do not get what we want out of life. You must be grateful to our good Lord who has blessed you with a good life. As for me, I am not as lucky as you.
 
My doctor has just given me the bad news. I won't be alive in the next two months as a result of colon cancer.
 
I am one of those good ones who have passion for the orphans and the less privileged and for God to take me now means He has done what He thinks is the best. Can we question God? Let God WILL be done.
 
You will use my inheritance in a manner that will put a smile on the faces of the orphans and the less privileged and as you do this my soul will rest in peace. But if you know you aren't going to be trusted with my inheritance please do not bother to contact me because conscience is an open wound and it is the only truth that can heal it.
My late husband is a devoted Christian who has left me the unpaid contract money he executed for 2 Petroleum Corporations in the Middle East and Africa but of what use are they to a dying woman like me. I have no child to inherit this inheritance and my wicked in-laws are not helping matters.
 
I pray you don't go through what I have gone through. Dear one, if you can be trusted with my inheritance I am ready to allow you to gain access to them but you will have to build a foundation in memory of me and my beloved late husband whom I am happy to meet very, very soon in heaven.
 
I want to use part of the fund to purchase a land or a home for the less privileged ones there under your supervision.
 
Your's Beloved     
Mrs. Rose Hamilton.

Anti-fraud resources: