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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: "JERRY OKON" <jokon22@msn.com>
Reply-To: barrjerry@excite.com
Date: Sat, 10 Sep 2005 01:37:49 +0000
Subject: AN OFFER FOR YOU

FOREIGN REMMITANCE DEPARTMENT,
HSBC LONDON,

Hello,

I AM Jerry Okon, THE ( P.A) PERSONNEL ASSISTANCE TO THE
DIRECTOR FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPT OFHSBC BANK LONDON.I WAS
DIRECTED TO INQUIRE FROM YOU IF YOU CAN HANDLE THIS
TRANSACTION ON BEHALF OF MY BOSS AND HIS DEVOTED
COLLEAGUES.

THE TRANSACTION IS ABOUT ASSISTING US AS OUR FORIEGN
PARTNER TO ENABLE US PRESENT YOU AS THE NEXT OF
KIN/BENEFICIARY OF THE USD$5.3MILLION DOLLARS LEFT BY OUR
LATE CUSTOMER WHO DIED SINCE JANUARY 2001 ALONGSIDE WITH
HIS FAMILY OF TWO IN A GHASTLY ACCIDENT.

BE INFORMED THAT THE FUND WAS RE-DEPOSITED IN ONE OF THE PRIVATE
SECURITY COMPANY IN LONDON FOR YOUR SAFE CLAIM OF THE FUND,UPON YOUR
RESPONSE DEPOSIT CERTIFICATE AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS WILL BE
PREPARED IN YOUR NAME,FOR EASY CLAIM OF THE FUND FROM THE SECURITY
COMPANY.

YOU WILL BECOMPENSATED WITH 25% OF THE TOTAL SUM FOR YOUR
HELP, WHILE 5% WILL SET-ASIDE TO RE-IMBURSED BOTH PARTIES FOR ANY
EXPENSES INCURRED IN THIS TRANSACTION. WE WILL SHARE THE BALANCE OF 70%
AMONG OURSELVES AS THE INITIATOR.

THE FUND IS CURRENTLY IN A SUSPENCE ACCOUNT AWAITING CLAIM.
WE WILL GIVE YOU MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE TRANSACTION WHEN
WE RECIEVE YOUR RESPONSE.

LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU.

YOURS FAITHFULLY,

JERRY OKON.


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