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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: "Mr. John Harriman." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <johnharriman71@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 18 Nov 2011 23:18:42 -0800
Subject: Mr. John Harriman.

Dear Friend,

I am writing this letter to ask for your support and co-operation to carry out this business opportunity in my department, On May 17th, 1996, an America Oil consultant/contractor with Petroleum Corporation, Mr. Arthur Simermeyer, made a numbered time (fixed) Valued at US$5,550,000.00 for Thirty six months calendar in my branch upon maturity. I sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply.

After a month, we sent a reminder and discovered from his contract employers, the Petroleum Corporation that Mr. Arthur Simermeyer, died in the plane crash On October 31, 1999, (an Egyptian Boeing 767 Flight 990) with other passengers on board as you can confirm it yourself via the website below.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/1999/11/01/iran/main49778.shtml

Most atoning of my discovery was that, all records bear no next of kin, meaning no member of Mr. Arthur Simermeyer family knows about the deposit therefore, no member of his family will ever come forward to claim the money. In 2008 the Dormant Bank & Building Society Acts was passed, giving the government the right to collect & distribute unclaimed money from dormant account after 15 years, I do not want this to happen to Mr.

Simermeyer’s account it must be claimed immediately by somebody standing in as late Mr. Arthur Simermeyer Next of Kin, because According to (United Kingdom), at the expiration of (15) years; the money will revert to the ownership of the (United Kingdom) Government if nobody applies to claim the fund.
This revelation is only known to me because I was his personal account officer before I was posted to become the branch manager, now I seek your collaboration to act as next of kin to late Mr. Arthur Simermeyer, to claim the funds and move them into useful investments, we shall split the cash between our self upon the confirmation of the money into your account.

Please note that by the virtue of my position in the bank, I have worked out the perfect modality as well as I shall provide the relevant information's and documents for the successful claim and transfer of the funds in the account that will be provided by you, I cannot stand in the forefront of this transaction because I work with the bank, I need a foreigner like you to execute it that is why I have come to you for assistance and be rest assured that this project is 100% risk free.

Upon the receipt of your acceptance, I will like you to provide me with the following details:

Your Full Names & Address.
Your Direct Phone Number.
Your Age & Marital.
Your International Passport or Driver’s License.
Your Occupation & Position.

I will give you an application with some documents which you will forward to the bank for the processing. This will make the NatWest Bank Plc London believe that truly you are the partner & next of kin of the deceased client.

Best Regards,
Mr. John Harriman.


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