joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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: TT ABBEY <abbey2423@gmail.com>
Reply-To: tc96542@zoho.com
Date: 23 Mar 2017 10:17:10 -0700
Subject: With duo respect sir

Attn. Good Day,

I decided to write you this proposal in good faith, believing that you will not betray me.
I have been in search of someone with the same last name of our late
customer and close friend of mine (Mr. Richard), hence i contacted you
because both of you bear the same surname and coincidentally from the same country,
and i was pushed to contact you and see how best we can assist each other.
Meanwhile I am Mr. Tony Abbe, a reputable banker here in Accra Ghana .
 
On the 15 march 2007, the young millionaire (Mr. Richard),a citizen of your country
and crude oil dealer made a fixed deposit with my bank, valued at US$6,500,000.00
(six million, five hundred thousand US dollars) and the mature date for this deposit
contract was on 30th of November, 2016. But sadly he was among the death victims in
the 12 May 2008, earthquake disaster in china that killed over 65,000 people.
 
Because he was in china on a business trip and that was how he meet his end.
My bank management is yet to know about his death, but I knew about it because
he was my friend and i am his account relationship officer, and he did not mention
any Next of Kin / heir when the account was opened, because he was not married and no children.
 
Last week my bank management requested that Mr. Richard should give instructions on
what to do about his funds, if to renew the contract or not.I know this will happen
and that is why i have been looking for a means to handle the situation, because if
my bank directors happens to know that he is dead and do not have any heir, they will
take the funds for their personal use, so i don't want such to happen. That is why
i am seeking your co-operation to present you as the Next of Kin / heir to the account,
since you bear same last name with the deceased customer.
 
There is no risk involved; the transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement
that will protect you from any breach of law. It is better that we claim the money, than allowing
the bank directors to take it, they are rich already. I am not a greedy person, so i am suggesting
we share the funds in this ratio, 50/50%, i.e. Equal.
 
Let me know your mind on this and please do treat this information highly confidential.
I will review further information’s /  details to you  as soon as i receive your positive
reply to my private email address  (
ndcimpex@hotmail.com)
 
Please kindly furnish me your Full name, Address and telephone number for easy communication.
 
I wait for your positive response.
 
With Regards
Mr. Tony Abbe

Anti-fraud resources: