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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: "Mathew E.Williams" <mathewwilliamslawfirm1@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 08:36:42 +0000
Subject: Mr. Mathew williams

Dear Friend,

I am Mr. Mathew williams, the director of the accounts & auditing
department .at the group bank of Africa Togo-west Africa. (B O A) With
due respect, I have decided to contact you on a business transaction
that will be beneficial to both of us.

At the bank's last accounts/auditing evaluations, my staff came across
an old account which was being maintained by a foreign client who we
learnt was among the deceased passengers of car accident.

Since his death, even the members of his family haven't applied for
claims over this fund and it has been in the safe deposit account
until I discovered that it cannot be claimed since our client is a
foreign national and we are sure that he has no next of kin here to
file claims over the money. As the director of the department, this
discovery was brought to my office so as to decide what is to be done.
I decided to seek ways through which to transfer this money out of the
bank and out of the country too.

The total amount in the account is (31,500,000.00 DOLLARS) with my
positions as staffs of the bank, I am handicapped because I cannot
operate foreign accounts and cannot lay bonfires claim over this
money. The client was a foreign national and you will only be asked to
act as his next of kin and I will supply you with all the necessary
information and bank data to assist you in being able to transfer this
money to any bank of your choice where this money could be transferred
into.

I want to assure you that this transaction is absolutely risk free
since I work in this bank that is why you should be confident in the
success of this transaction because you will be updated with
information as at when desired.
I will wish you to keep this transaction secret and confidential as I
am hoping to retire with my share of this money at the end of
transaction which will be when this money is safety in your account. I
will then come over to your country for sharing according to the
previously agreed percentages. You might even have to advise me on
possibilities of investment in your country or elsewhere of our
choice. May God help you to help me to a restive retirement, Amen.

Please for further information and enquiries feel free to contact me
back immediately for more explanation and better understanding through
this email address (mathewwilliamslawfirm1@yahoo.com)
I am waiting for your urgent response!!!
Thanks and remain blessed.
Mr. Mathew williams

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