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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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Fraud email example:

From: "Michael Edward" <georggyg@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: mich_edward@yahoo.com.au
Date: Sun, 10 Feb 2002 10:34:35 -0800
Subject: Strictly Confidential.

FROM: Micheal Edward.
Plot 421 Nelson Mandela Way,
Asokoro, Abuja,
Nigeria.
Dear Sir,
I am Dr. Edward I work at Standard Trust Bank
Plc were I head the
credit and accounts department. I am writing with
respect to a customer
named Mr. Peter Godfrey,. who maintained a current in
my
bank with current
account
number AL/CMTB/9977450.
Mr. Peter had a credit balance of U.S$12.4 Million
United States
Dollars
before he died unfortunately in a ghastly auto crash.
This bank account
was operated by Mr. Peter without him giving
information about his
?Next
of Kin?/ Heir and all attempts to trace his family
members since his
death
has failed.
It is with respect to the above that I am contacting
you since your
last
name is coincidentally the same with that of the late
customer. This
transaction
which is confidential will take this form.
I will enter your name into our database and the
account opening
documents
of Mr. Peter Godfrey once I get your consent to begin
the transaction. I
will
then give you all the necessary information to enable
you claim the
funds
as the late customer?s ?Next of Kin?.
You may need to come down to Nigeria to sign the
necessary documents
like
fund release order etc. However if for any good reason
you cannot make
the
trip, you may nominate an attorney who will represent
you at my Bank.
If
you decide to use an attorney, then the attorney on
getting the
necessary
information from you will apply legally through a
deposed Affidavit.
The
attorney will also need to present a letter of
administration before
the
funds will be wired to any bank of your choice.
For your assistance with regards to the above stated
transaction
between
you and me, you will keep 30% of the total sum of
money as your share
while
you will make 60% available to me on demand. The
balance of 10% will be
set aside to offset any expenses incurred and
incidental to the above
transaction
eg (Taxes etc). Any balance from the 10% set aside to
offset expenses
will
be shared equally between us. Upon the acknowledgement
of this mail,
more
information will be given to you as regards the
transaction. Thank you
in
advance as I wait for your favorable reply.
Yours sincerely,
Michael Edward





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