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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: "Kennedy Franklin" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ken_frank01@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 27 Oct 2011 16:48:17 -0500
Subject: Get Intouch!

DEAR SIR,

I WRITE TO YOU BASED ON A REQUEST FOR AN INVESTMENT OPTION.

MY NAME IS KENNEDY FRANKLIN; I'M A BUSINESS DEVELOPER IN MY COUNTRY.

MY REASON FOR CONTACTING YOU IS THAT I HAVE AN URGENT NEED TO INVEST SOME FUNDS AMOUNTING TO US$15.5 MILLION (FIFTEN MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) INTO LUCRATIVE BUSINESS IN YOUR COUNTRY FOR A CLIENT OF MINE. WHAT HE REQUESTED IS AN INDIVIDUAL SUCH AS YOU, WHO WILL BE WILLING TO PUT THIS MONEY TO GOOD USE FOR A PERIOD OF 5YEARS FOR A START. HE IS OFFERING YOU THESE TERMS:

1. 10% WILL BE PAID TO YOU AS AN ADMINISTRATOR OF THE TOTAL FUND TO BE MANAGED.

2. THE FUND WILL BE USED BY YOU AS A FOREIGN ADMINISTRATOR TO RE PROFILE THE FUND AS A LOAN WITHOUT ANY INTEREST. THAT IS, YOU DO NOT PAY ANY INTEREST ON THE MONEY, BUT YOU WILL GIVE HIM 50% OF ALL PROFITS AFTER TAX THAT WILL ACCRUE FROM THE USE OF THE FUND.

IF THESE TERMS ARE AGREEABLE TO YOU, KINDLY LET ME KNOW AND I WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH OTHER NECESSARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE GET BACK TO ME URGENTLY.

ENDEAVOR TO INCLUDE YOUR TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS FOR MORE EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION AND PLEASE TREAT AS PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL.

AWAITING YOUR REPLY.

BEST REGARDS.

KENNEDY FRANKLIN

Anti-fraud resources: