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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: "Cole Smith" <vanchez@executivemail.co.za> (may be fake)
Reply-To: clsmith@homemail.co.za
Date: Tue, 5 Apr 2005 10:52:30 +0200
Subject: VITAL

Hello,
I am Mr. Cole Smith, an auditor of a reputable bank in Johannesburg, Gauteng
Province in the Republic of South Africa. I have an urgent and very
confidential business proposition for you.
We had a foreign client named Mr. Chung Timothy, who deposited a huge sum of
money (18.6 Million United States Dollars), with our bank. Eventually, this
client died in a plane crash and since his death we have not had anybody
come up for the claims as the next of kin.
You may want to take a look at other passengers, who were on the same plane;
here is a site for your
perusal.http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9708/06/guam.passenger.list/ </Redirect/www.cnn.com/WORLD/9708/06/guam.passenger.list/>
A situation I have monitored closely with my position in the bank. Now
having monitored this deposit and managed it over the years before his
death, and hence nobody has showed up as the next of kin for the past years.
I now solicit for your assistance to present you as the next of kin as every
other arrangement/ processes will be monitored by me and my partners
involved. However I got your contact from a trade consultant here in South
Africa, though I did not disclose the purpose of my seeking for a foreign
business partner to him. Although we will still have to sign some agreement
before the final transfer of the fund into any of your designated bank
account.
I have involved a very senior official in the operational department, and we
have agreed that after the transfer of the money into your account, you
shall be entitled to 20% of the total sum, my colleagues and I will have 75%
while 5% will be used to reimburse any expenses incurred. All necessary
precautions have been taken to ensure a risk free situation on the side of
both parties. Please note that this deal can only take place on the
following conditions;
1. Absolute confidentiality and sincerity will be required and guaranteed,
considering our positions in the bank.
2. Assurance that our own share will be released to us in good faith when
this money finally gets into your account.
Please treat with utmost confidentiality. Contact me as quickly as possible
through my e-mail.
Expecting your urgent response,
Best Regards,
MR. Cole Smith




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