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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: "Unicredit Banca" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sergiocasadei4@aol.com>
Date: Fri, 9 Sep 2011 01:22:20 +0100
Subject: Private Message Read Carefully

Good day,
 
              Firstly, I apologize for sending you this sensitive information via E-mail Instead of a Certified
mail/Post-mail.
 
This is due to the urgency and importance of the information. I humbly crave your indulgence to read
this e-mail with all seriousness of purpose devoid of any doubt in your mind because this project is
based  on Trust, Confidentiality and Sincerity of purpose in order to have an acceptable meeting of the
minds. Although we never met before, but I have every reason to believe that you are a highly respected
personality, considering the fact That I got your E- mail address through the Internet, my online network,
while searching for a reliable and reputable person to handle  urgent and serious transaction.
 
I am a senior manager accounts/audit in one of the big banks here in Italy. I am writing following an
opportunity in my office that will be of immense benefit to both of us. In my department we discovered
an abandoned sum of 13 million Euros (Thirteen Million Euros Only) in anaccount that belongs to one
of our foreign customers who unfortunately lost his life on his way to the Airport. Since we got
information about his death, we have been expecting His next of kin or relatives to come over and claim
his money because we cannot release it unless somebody applies for it as Next of kin or relation to the
Deceased as indicated in our banking guidelines.
 
Unfortunately I discovered that his supposed next of kin being his only daughter and wife died along with
him in the auto crash leaving nobody with the knowledge of this fund behind for claim. It is therefore
upon this discovery that I and his account manager now decided to make business with you and release
the money/funds to you as the next of kin or beneficiary of the funds for safety keeping and
subsequent disbursement since nobody is coming for it and we don't want this money to go back into
Government treasury as unclaimed bill.
The banking law and guidelines here stipulates that such money remained after seven years the money
will be transferred into banking treasury as unclaimed funds.
 
We agreed that 30% of this funds would be for you as Foreign partner, 10% mapped out to repay any
expenses that we will incure  which we take care of by our personal out pocket contribution while the
balance will be for us. I and my partner will visit your country for the disbursement according to the
percentages indicated above once this money/funds gets into your Account. Please we need
transparency and honesty to be our watchdog.
 
To commence this transaction, we require you to immediately indicate
your interest by a return e-mail and enclose the Following
information:
1. Full name
2: Your private telephone and Fax numbers.
3. Occupations and Nationality.
4. Date of Birth
5, Present Location
 
Note: I want to assure you that this transaction is confidential and risk free. As soon as you receive this
mail please click on reply and reply this message. Please note that all the necessary arrangement for
the smooth release of these funds to you will be finalized as soon as you indicate your role in this
transaction. We will discuss much in details when I receive your response.
 
Best regards,
Mr. Sergio Casadei

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