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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: "Davila Eric" <davila_eric@alex4all.com>
Reply-To: auditor_davila1@usa.com
Date: Thu, 08 Sep 2005 23:02:05 GMT
Subject: Reply From Mr.Eric Davila

18 Independence Close.
Johannesburg.
South Africa.
 
 
       Dear,Sir/Madam.
 
We want to transfer to overseas the sum of One hundred and Forty Two Million United States Dollars (U.S.$142,000,000.00) from a bank in Africa.
 
I want to ask you to kindly look for a reliable and honest person who will be capable and fit to provide either an existing bank account or to set up a new bank account immediately to receive this money,though an empty bank account could serve this purpose as long as you will remain honest to me till the end of this important business trusting in you and believing  in God that you  will never let me down either now or in time to come.

I am Mr Eric Davila.the external auditor of a Bank.During the course of our auditing,I discovered a floating fund  in an account opened in the bank in 1990 and since 1993 nobody has operated on this account again.After going through some old files in the records, I discovered that the owner of the account died without a “Heir apparent to the throne”hence the money is floating and  if I do not remit this money out urgently it will be forfeited for nothing.
 
The owner of this account who is Mr.Eshed.B.Willey,a foreigner and an industrialist died, since 1990,until now no other person(s) knows about this account or could give any documentary evidence concerning this account. As such this account has no other beneficiary and my investigation proved to me as well that Eshed.B.Willey until his death was the manager Oriental Diamond Company,in South Africa. 
 
However, if you are interested in this business we will start the  first money transfer with Forty Two Million U.S.Dollars (U.S.$42,000,000.00) upon successful transaction without any disappointment from you.
 
We shall also re-apply for the payment of the  remaining amount to your account. While the total amount involved is One hundred and Forty Two Million United States Dollars (U.S.$142000,000.00)only. I would want us to make a first transfer of Forty Two Million United States Dollar.(U.S.$4200,000.00)from this money into a safe foreigners account abroad before the rest.
 
I am only contacting you as a foreigner because this money can not be approved to a local account, without valid international foreign “Agreement”, but could only be approved to any foreigner with valid international credentials: passport or drivers license and foreign account  because this sum is in U.S. dollars and the former owner of the account Mr.Eshed.B.Willey is a foreigner too, thus the money could only be approved into a foreign account.
 
However, knowing all this, we will reach a binding agreement in this regards.As a matter of urgency,I will inform you the next step to take, while you Send your private telephone and fax number including the full details of the account to be used for the deposit.
 
I want us to meet face to face to build confidence and to sign a binding agreement that will  bind us together  before transferring the money to any account of  your choice where the fund will be safe. Before we fly to your country for withdrawal, sharing and investments,I need your full co-operation to make this business a success, because the management is ready to approve this payment to any foreigner who has correct information of this account, which I will give to you,upon your positive response and once I am convinced that you are  capable and will meet up with the instructions of a key bank official who is deeply involved with me in this business. I need your strong assurance that you will never  let me down.
 
With my influence and the position in the bank we can transfer this money to any foreigner's reliable account which you can provide with assurance that this money will be intact pending our physical arrival in your country for sharing.
 
And to build confidence that you can come immediately to discuss with me face to face after which I will make this remittance in your presence and three of us will fly to your country at least two days ahead of the money going into the  account.I will apply for annual leave to get visa immediately I hear from you that you are ready to act as directed.
 
To prove the authenticity of the business I will use my position and influence to obtain all legal approvals for onward transfer of this money to your account with appropriate clearance from the relevant  ministries,foreign exchange departments, embassy and Board of Internal Revenue services.
 
At the conclusion of this business, you will be given 35% of the total amount, 60% will be for me,while 5% will be for expenses both parties might have incurred during this process.
 
I look forward to your earliest reply.
 
Regard,
 
Mr Eric Davila.

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