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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: "Dr. Ferdinand Meyer" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ferdinand-meyer@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 14:57:05 +0100
Subject: CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

Greetings from Africa,

I am an accountant with the Union bank plc I am the Accounts officer to late Engineer Douglas, who was a foreign contractor with Shell oil and gas company here In Nigeria. On 30th January 2000 my client, his wife, and their three children were involved in the "Kenya airways" flight air crash and the all family died.

http://www.usafricaonline.com/kenyacrash2.html

My reason of contacting you is that the Union Bank plc has issued a notice to me in a memorandum, instructing me to produce the next of kin/beneficiary of my client within the next ten official working days. Since my client is dead and with no next of kin, I seek your consent and permission to present you as the next of kin of the deceased to the Diamond bank plc since you have the same last name so that the proceeds of his account valued at twelve million USD ($12,000,000.00) can be paid to you and then you and me can share the money in the ratio: 40% to me, 40% to you, 10% for any charity organization in your country, while 10% for unforeseen expenses.

For me to file you as the beneficiary/next of kin, I will like you to send me, the followings personal information to my private email below because I will like this transaction to be confidential (You and me only) until we get the funds transfered into your account.

(1) YOUR FULL NAME
(2) YOUR CONTACT ADDRESS
(3) YOUR CONTACT PHONE NUMBERS

As soon as I hear from you, I will send you my identification (International passport) so that you know who you are dealing with and also have a sense of belonging. Expecting to hear from you as soon as you get this e-mail at my private email below : ferdinand-meyer@hotmail.com

Best regards,

Ferdinand Meyer
ferdinand-meyer@hotmail.com

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