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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: "kenneth" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <kennethwillaim@sify.com>
Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 08:43:08 +1100
Subject: Business Assistant of US$3.7Million PARTINERSHIP REQUEST?

16 cricklewood Broadway
nw2 4se, London, UK.
Dear Friend
To be precise i am a banker here in UK. Unfortunate one of my client who was a property magnate and
building contractor passed away with his wife and only son in an air disaster some years back.
Upon his death no body has lay a claim on the fund since the person (son)he provided as the next of kin
died with him in the crash leaving a vacuum to be filled. The bankers had planned to invoke the
abandoned property decree of1936 to confiscate the funds after the expiration of a certain period.
It was in the light of this i contacted you considering that your surname is the same with my late client
knowing obviously that you are not in any way related to my late client
The fund US$3.7 Million will be shared in the ratio of 50% for you, 40% will be meant for me while 10% to
defray all cost arising in the execution of this transaction
I hereby assure you that this transaction is 100% risk free and will be conducted in legitimate manner
without any financial bridge. You should trust me considering that i am my late client account officer and
financial adviser
Kindly contact me immediately by furnishing me with your complete response strictly
Information
1) Full names
2) Age,
3) Direct phone number
4) Mobile phone number
5) Natureofjob/position,
6) Marital status
7) Your physical address, to carry out the legal documentation that will compel the bank to recognize you
as the next of kin and release the fund to you
On the receipt of your response I will send you the documents pertaining to the deposit of the fund.
Yours sincerely,
Mr. Kenneth Williams

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