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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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "GEORGE SMITH ." <georgesmith2005@msn.com>
Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2005 01:11:18 +0000
Subject: ATTENTION SIR/MADAM

ATTENTION SIR/MADAM,

I AM ROSEMARY JAMES A BRITISH NATIONAL AND THE HEAD OF PRIVATE BANKING
SECTION IN LONDON ENGLAND.MYSELF AND MY ASSOCIATE IN MY DEPARTMENT HAVE
EARLIER IN THE YEAR RECOVERED THE SUM OF USD$64, 000, 000.00 (SIXTY FOUR
MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLARS ONLY) WHICH THE ACCOUNT WAS LAST OPERATED ON
THE 9TH OF SEPTEMBER 2001 AND THE SAID ACCOUNT WAS A SAUDI REGISTERED
COMPANIES ACCOUNT.

IN THE CAUSE OF DOING OUR JOBS, WE DECIDED TO INVESTIGATE THE COMPANY ONLY
TO FIND OUT THAT THE COMPANYS DIRECTORS DOSENT EXIST WE HAD NO OPTIONS THAN
TO MOVE THE FUNDS TO A SUSPENSE ACCOUNT AND CLOSE UP THE ACCOUNTS.

AS A RESULT OF THIS, BASED ON PREVIOUS RECORDS BEFORE LONG, THESE FUNDS WILL
BE REVERTED BACK TO COMPANIES TREASURY AS UNCLAIMED FUNDS, BUT BEFORE THIS
HAPPENS WE HAVE CONCLUDED AND CONSILED ARRANGEMENTS TO TRANSFER THESE FUNDS
TO A CONFIDENTIAL AND RESPECTABLE PERSON OR BODY IN LESS THAN (7) SEVEN
WORKING DAYS.

THE ARRANGEMENT IS THIS; WE WILL EFFECT THE TRANSFER TO ANY TRUSTED ACCOUNT
AFTER WHICH WE WILL GRANT 20% TO YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE WHILE MY GROUP WILL
MAKE DUE WITH 75% AND 5% WILL BE SET ASIDE FOR EXPENSIVES.

BESIDES, THERE IS NO RISK INVOLVED IN THIS TRANSACTION AS EVERY BIT WILL BE
HANDLED IN A PROFFESSIONAL MANNER AND UTMOST SINCEREITY AND CONFIDENTIALITY.

YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE IS HIGHLY IMPERATIVE.

YOURS FAITHFULLY,
ROSEMARY JAMES.
CHIEF FINANCIAL (CFO)


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