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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: Salam Traore <salam.traore@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2012 15:42:14 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: I await your response..




Dear Friend,  I anticipate thatyou read this mail quickly and let me know your opinion or willingness on thisclassified information that I will release to you. Firstly, I am theregional manager of the Bank of Africa. I am writing to solicit your assistancein the transfer of $10.5M (Ten Million, Five Hundred Thousand Dollars Only) toyour account. This fund is theexcess of what my branch in which I am the regional manager made deposit in thedormant account for the last ten years. I have already submitted an approvedEnd of the Year report to my Head Office here in Burkina Faso and they will neverknow of Excess this. I have since then, placed this amount of $10 500, 000.00On a SUSPENSE ACCOUNT without a beneficiary. As an officer ofthe bank, I cannot be directly connected to this money thus I am impelled torequest for your assistance to receive this money into your bank account. Iintend to give you 40% of the total amount, 50% will be for me and 10% for
anyexpenses the may accrued during the transaction. I do need to stress that thereare practically no risk involved in this. It is going to be a bank-to-banktransfer to your nominated bank account anywhere you feel safer. All I needfrom you is to stand as the original depositor of this fund. If you acceptthis offer, I will appreciate your timely response and this transaction isCONFIDENTIAL. For further details upon your acceptance of this offer. With Regards,Mr. SalamTraore  

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