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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: benrththt hthththt <bentyhhtry_897@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <bendesmondgod@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 15 May 2007 04:40:37 +0100
Subject: FROM MR BEN DESMOND



FROM MR. Ben DesmondP.O.BOX 3038,57 VICTORIA STREET, LONDON SW1H, UNITED KINGDOM
Dear Friend,
Please accept my sincere apologizes if my email does not meet your business or personal ethics.
I will first introduce myself as MR. ben desmond, the Chief Auditor withNATWEST BANK PLC, LONDON-UK.
One of our accounts, with holding balance of £12.500000,000 (Twelve Million Five Hundred thousand pounds Sterling) hasbeen dormant and last operated for years ago. From my investigations, the owner of the saidaccount,Is a foreigner by name MR. JOHN SHUMEJDA who died along with his entirefamily in crash at Birmingham Airport on 4th Jan, 2002.
View this website for verificationhttp://www.cwn.org.uk/business/a-z/a/agco/2002/01/020104-air-crash.htm
Since then, nobody has done anything as regards the claiming of this money, as he has no family member that has anyknowledge as to the existence of either the account or the funds;
I have confidently discussed this issue with some of the bank officials and we have agreed tofind a reliable foreign partner to deal with.
My proposition to you, is to seek your consent topresent you as the Next of kin and beneficiary of this late client, So that the proceeds of this account valued a huge sumshall be paid to you, and then we can share the amount on a mutually agreed percentage of 30% for you,While60% for me and others involved, 10% shall be used for miscelenious expenses while the remainder shall begiven to a reputable charity home because the money is owned by a deceased person.
This transaction is totally free of risk and troubles as the fund is legitimate and does not originate from drug, money laundry, terrorism or any other illegal act, fundswill be released to you after necessary processes have been followed.
Let me hear from you as soon as you get this message, so we can proceed.
Best regards,
Mr Ben Desmond
_________________________________________________________________
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