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

Fraud email example:

From: "CITI BANK." <hartmutmdch@citibank.es>
Reply-To: hartmutmdch@netscape.ne
Date: Fri, 21 Oct 2005 03:33:53 +0200
Subject: RESPONSE.


>From The Desk Of HARTMUT MANFRED DEUTSCH.
General Auditor Of CITI BANK,MADRID SPAIN.
Private Email:hartmutmdch@netscape.net
Dear Friend,
I am Mr. Hartmut Manfred Deutsch, The general auditor of CITI BANK, MADRID SPAIN. This letter may come to you as a big surprise, but i believe it is only a day that people meet and become great friends and business partners. I write you this proposal in good faith, Believing that i can trust you with the information i am about to reveal to you. I have a transaction that will benefit both of us, as your assistance is required .
I discovered an A/C number 5005874BS1000 with total sum of $15,500,000.00 million that has not been operated on for the past four years. From my investigation, I found out that this account belongs to one Late. T. Thompson, An American who was a private business man unfortunately lost his life in the plane crash of Alaska Airlines Flight 261 which crashed on January 31st 2000, including his wife and only daughter.
You can read more about the crash on visiting these sites below.http://www.cnn.com/2000/US/02/01/alaska.airlines.list I just came across his file again when I was auditing all the credit account, and I find out that nobody as ever come on behalf of the Late T.Thompson as his next of kin to claim the funds. And I have been monitoring this account since I discovered this information.
In this case I have concluded to contact you, and if you are reliable to execute this transaction with me, then I will instruct you on how to claim these funds as the next of kin to the late Mr.T.Thompson,so that the funds can be transfer from the A/C, if only you can co-operate with me and not to betray me at the end when the transfer of the funds has been made.
As the General Auditor Of CITI BANK, I have the power to influence the release of the funds to you as the next of kin to the account, with the correct information concerning the account, which I shall give you. There is practically no risk involved, The transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of law. And the sharing of the funds is 65% for me, 30% for you and the remaining 5% will be for expenses incurred during the transaction.
As soon as I receive your reply through my Private email:(hartmutmdch@netscape.net) with your contacts including your direct telephone numbers and fax numbers, i will also send you a copy of my international passport, and advise you on how to go about the transaction.
I await your soonest response.
Thanks.
Mr. Hartmut Manfred Deutsch.
Auditor General CITI BANK.

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