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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: John Williams <apardo@foncep.gov.co>
Reply-To: John Williams <johnwilliams2013@hotmail.fr>
Date: Tue, 14 May 2013 12:34:57 -0500 (COT)
Subject: From Mr. John Williams Tay.

From Mr. John Williams Tay.

Dear,

Suddenly you got this mail and may be doubting and wondering how I got your mail contact. Well, I got your contact from an operator of an internet services in the Chambers of Commerce and Industry here in Lome, Togo hence I decided to write you, though I did not mention the transaction to him.

First of all I want you to know that this is not a junk mail. Because based on what is going on all over the internet world, you may find it difficult to believe, But If you can guarantee me from your own side, your trust and honestly I will be able to work with you. I will appreciate if you can come down yourself and see things for yourself before we proceed.

I am Mr. K W. Tay, an accountant with one of the local banks here,(CCS/BA BANK) Togo. I am contacting you on this business of transferring the sum of eight Million US$ (US$8 million) into a safe foreign account and it must be very confidential. I solicit your urgent assistance for the transfer of these funds into your Bank account.

I wish to inform you that I discovered the said amount of money during our last audit work in the month of April 2012. I discovered this money belongs to one Mr. Burckhard, Erich,He was a wealthy Business man who deposited the huge amount in our bank, he died without any registered next of kin as he was a divorcee and had no child. I needs your help to come out to stand as the next of kin to late Mr. Burckhard Erich, note that Mr. Burckhard Erich died in plane crash on Monday 2ND September 1998 GMT 14:22 UK while they were flying from New York to Geneva.

I want to make the following points clear for you so that you can have a better understanding of why am contacting you in this project.

1-As civil servants, we are not permitted to operate or own a foreign account while in office due to CIVIL SERVICE CODE OF CONDUCT.

2-A reliable foreign partner abroad is required for assistance To claim the fund as the case may be.

3-You will be forwarded as the next of kin to the late depositor of the fund.

Open this site for confirmation of the incident... ( http://edition.cnn.com/WORLD/9809/swissair.victims.list/index.html )

Your assisting percentage will be as agreed when you finally get back to me; upon your response i will give you the next step to take for the transfer processing on your name.

Yours faithfully
Mr. John Williams Tay

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