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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: "Mr.Robert Payne" <r_payne2005@handbag.com>
Reply-To: payne@mailbg.com
Date: Thu, 8 Sep 2005 07:21:44 -0800
Subject: CONTACT ME!!!

FROM MR.ROBERT PAYNE
AUDITOR AND COMPUTING MANAGER
BANK OF SCOTLAND
UNITED KINGDOM
PRIVATE Email:payne_private@london.net
DATE:8th SEPTEMBER, 2005.

DEAR PARTNER,

PLEASE DO PARDON ME FOR MY WAY OF INTRODUCING MYSELF TO YOU.WELL,I AM MR.ROBERT
PAYNE THE AUDITOR AND COMPUTING MANAGER OF BANK OF SCOTLAND AND WISH TO PRESENT
MY BUSINESS PROPOSAL TO YOUR DOOR STEP.
THE BUSINESS PROPOSAL BELOW:
IN ORDER TO TRANSFER OUT ( FIFTEEN-MILLION POUNDS STERLINGS) FROM OUR
BANK HERE IN LONDON. I HAVE THE COURAGE TO LOOK FOR A RELIABLE AND HONEST
PERSON WHO WILL BE CAPABLE FOR THIS IMPORTANT BUSINESS TRANSACTION,BELIEVING
THAT YOU WILL NEVER LET ME DOWN EITHER NOW OR IN FUTURE.

HOW THE MONEY CAME ABOUT;
THE OWNER OF THIS ACCOUNT IS MR JOHN HUGHES A FOREIGNER AND THE MANAGER OF
PETROL CHEMICAL SERVICE HERE IN LONDON,A CHEMICAL ENGINEER BY PROFFESSION
AND HE DIED SINCE 1995.AND THIS MONEY HAS REMAINED UNCLAIMED BECAUSE THE
ACCOUNT HAS NO OTHER BENEFICIARY AND MY INVESTIGATION PROVED TO ME AS WELL
THAT HIS COMPANY DOES NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS ACCOUNT AND THE AMOUNT
INVOLVED IS (15,000,000.00)POUNDS STERLINGS.

I WANT TO TRANSFER THIS MONEY INTO A SAFE FOREIGN ACCOUNT ABROAD BUT I
DON'T KNOW ANY FOREIGNER,I KNOW THAT THIS MESSAGE WILL COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE
AS WE DON'T KNOW OUR SELF BEFORE,BUT BE SURE THAT IT IS REAL AND A GENUINE
BUSINESS AND ASWELL AS 100% RISK FREE.I BELIEVE IN GOD THAT YOU WILL NEVER
LET ME DOWN IN THIS INVESTMENT.AND FOR THIS BUSINESS TO COMMENCE YOUR FULL
DETAILS WILL BE NECESSARY FOR THIS EFFECT.
1)YOUR FULL NAME
2)OCCUPATION
3)AGE
4)CONTACT ADDRESS
5)PHONE/FAX NUMBER
6)ACCOUNT DETAILS
7)YOUR PASSPORT.
HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU IMMEDIATELY SOON.

THANKS YOU FOR UNDERSTANDING AND BE BLESSED.

MR ROBERT PAYNE.
BANK OF SCOTLAND


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