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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: "Harry Martins" <harry_mart@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 27 Sep 2005 12:53:25 +0100
Subject: GET BACK TO ME

THE MANAGER,
UNION BANK OF PLC,
VICTORIA ISLAND
LAGOS.
Sir/Ma,
AN URGENT BUSINESS PROPOSAL
I am pleased to get across to you for a very urgent and
profitable business proposal,though I don't know you
neither have I seen you before but my confidence was
reposed on you when i was doing some researched on some directory of
chamber of Commerce and Industry,looking for an honest and trusted
business person to such transaction with me with total confidential .
I am the manager of Union Bank Plc,victoria
island,Lagos state.
The intended business is thus;there was a customer(a foreigner)
resident in my country, he was a sub-contractor with one
of the Government Parastatals. He has in his Account in my
branch the sum of US$35 Million (Thirty million U.S
Dollars).
Unfortunately, the man died some years ago until today
non-of his next of kin has come forward to claim the money or family.
Having noticed this.
Now i want you to have it in mind that you have nothing to be worried
about(being a foreigner) to be fronted as one of
his next of kin of the deceased and forward all the
necessary information to be advised to you by us to attest
to the Claim.
I will use my position to get all internal
documentation from the late client banking files to back up the
claims.
The whole procedures will done by me,the papers that will stand you
as the next of kin to the late client so when all informations has
been forwarded to me for perusal it will take 7 bank working days to
get
the fund retrieved successfully without trace even in
future.
Your response is only what we are waiting for as we have
put all machineries that will be instrumental to the
success of the transaction in motion.
As soon as this message comes to you kindly get back to me
indicating your interest,then I will furnish you with the
whole procedures to ensure that the deal is successfully
Concluded.
For your assistance, i have agreed in principle to offer
you 30% of the total sum at the end of the transaction.
It is risk free and a big mega fortune.
All correspondences towards this transaction will be
through telephone and e-mail or if you have anyother means of
communication that will be much better.
I await your earliest response.
Thanks,
Best regards,
Harry Martins.
N/B: I require you send to me your personal telephone and
fax number for easy communication,you can reach me on this
mail,harry_martins20@yahoo.ca


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