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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.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "john martins" <johnmartin2012@msn.com>
Date: Tue, 18 Oct 2005 01:23:03 +0000
Subject: URGENT CONTACT

FROM MR.JOHN MARTINS
FOREIGN ACCOUNTS DEPARTMENT
STANDARD TRUST BANK(NIGERIA)PLC
LAGOS-NIGERIA.
E-MAIL:johnmartins2012@barrelhorses.com
Dear Friend,

I am an Accountant of Foreign Accounts Department of the Standard Trust Bank
Plc. I am writing you this letter to ask for your support and co-operation
to carry out this transaction. We discovered an abandoned Sum of
US$20Million (Twenty Million U.S Dollars) in an account that belong to one
of our foreign customer who died along side his entire family in November
1997 in a plane crash in Lagos.

Since this development, we have advertised for his next of kin or any close
relation to come forward to claim this money, but nobody came to apply for
the claim. To this effect, I and two other officials in my department have
decided to look for a trusted foreign partner who can stand in as the next
of kin to the deceased and claim this money. We need a foreign partner to
apply for the claim because of the fact that the customer was a
foreigner.And we dont want this money to go into the banks treasure as
unclaimed fund.

Every document to effect this process will emanate from my table and I will
perfect every documents to be in accordance with the banking law and
guidelines so you have nothing to worry about.All we required from you is to
open a local bank account in your name here in Lagos where the money is to
be deposited,before onward transfer to your designated account abroad. we
have agreed that 30% of the money will be for you, 10% for expenses incurred
on the both side while 60% willbe for my colleagues and me. If you are going
to help me, indicate by replying this letter and putting in your bank
particulars, private telephone and fax numbers.

I await your immediate reply to enable us start this transaction in earnest.
Once I receive your reply, I will send you the text of application for
immediate application of claim.Thanks for your anticipated assistance.Please
indicate your interest only in my alternative private e-mail
address:johnmartins2012@barrelhorses.com

Yours faithfully,

Mr.JOHN MARTINS.


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