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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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Please note about this email:

Fraud email example:

From: "gaulle pyres" <megainvest101@msn.com>
Reply-To: pretnancy@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2005 18:46:58 +0000
Subject: Urgent Response Needed

NED Bank SOUTH AFRICA
Dept. of Foreign Remittance
South Africa Limited (NBSA).
Email:gaulle.pyres@gmail.com
 
Dear Sir,
 
I am Mr. Pyres Gaulle, a Manager of Bills/Exchange at the Foreign Remittance Department of NED Bank of South Africa Limited (NBSA). In my department, we discovered an abandoned sum of US$ 11m (Eleven Million United States Dollars only) in an account that belonged to one of our foreign customers who died along with his entire family on 2nd January 2001 in a ghastly motor accident. Since we got information about his death, we have been expecting somebody to come forward to make claims as a relative of the deceased.
 
My colleague and I, in the department decided to establish a cordial business relationship with you, hence my contacting you. We want to present you as the next of kin of the deceased, so that we can release the fund into your account for safety and subsequent disbursement.
 
After a successful transfer, we will have the fund shared in this modality, 20% of the total amount will be given to you for the help you rendered in the transaction, and 75% will be shared between my colleagues and I while the balance of 5% will be for any expense incurred in the transaction.
 
After receiving your reply, you will be communicated to with the exact steps to take. I quite believe that you will protect our interest by keeping this business top secret and confidential. Trusting to hear from you quickly, I count on your earliest response.
 
Best Regards.
 
Mr. Pyres Gaulle.
 
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Anti-fraud resources: