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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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: Patrick Rawlings <patrick_raw28@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 10 Dec 2005 15:11:10 -0800 (PST)
Subject: YOUR IMMEDIATE COPERATION NEEDED.


FROM THE OFFICE OF MR PATRICK RAWLINGS,
MANAGER OF THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT
OF INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK
P.L.C.GHANA.

STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL


Dear:

THANKS TO A PIECE OF INFORMATION I GATHERED ABOUT YOU
THROUGH THE GHANANIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY,
ALTHOUGH I DID NOT LEAVE ANY CLUE AS TO THE REASON FOR
MY INQUIRY BEARING IN MIND THE CONFIDENTIALITY REQUIRED IN THIS ABSOLUTE RISK-FREE BUSINESS.
I AM MR PATRICK RAWLINGS, THE MANAGER OF THE TREASURY
DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK PLC HEAD OFFICE IN ACCRA-GHANA.RECENTLY,WE DISCOVERED A DORMANT
ACCOUNT WITH A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY VALUED USD 9,000,000.00(NINE MILLION US DOLLARS)THAT BELONG TO ONE OF OUR NUMEROUS CUSTOMERS MR HEDRIAN SCHMIDT WHO DIED IN A PLANE CRASH IN NOVEMBER 2002.
DURING THE PERIOD OF OUR INVESTIGATION WE DISCOVERED
THAT THE DECEASED DIED ALONG WITH HIS FAMILY, LEAVING
NO WILL AND NOBODY BEHIND TO COME FOR THE CLAIM AS
NEXT OF KIN,THE BANKING LAW HERE STIPULATES THAT IF
SUCH MONEY REMAIN UNCLAIMED FOR SIX YEARS, IT WILL BE
FORFEITED TO THE BANK TRASURY AS AN UNCLAIMED BILL.
A GHANANIAN CANNOT STAND AS A NEXT OF KIN TO A
FOREIGNER.
IT IS UPON THIS DISCOVERY THAT I AND MY COLLEAGUES
IN THIS DEPARTMENT DECEIDED TO CONTACT YOU TO
COLLABRATE WITH YOU TO PULL OUT THIS DORMANT FUND
WE HAVE IT IN MIND TO GIVE YOU A 25% OF THIS TOTAL
FUND OF THE TOTAL MONEY IF THIS PROPOSAL MEETS
YOUR INTEREST URGENTLY REACH ME THROUGH THE ABOVE
STATED EMAIL,TELEPHONE NUMBERS TO ENABLE ME GIVE
YOU THE FULL DETAILS OF THIS TRANSACTION AND HOW IT
IS GOING TO WORK OUT.
WHAT I WANT FROM YOU IS FOR YOU TO ACT AS THE DECEASED
NEXT OF KIN.I HAVE IN MY POSSESSION(alone)ALL
NECESSARY DOCUMENT TO SUCCESSFULLY ACCOMPLISH THIS
TASK.FURTHER INFORMATION WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU AS SOON
AS I RECIEVE YOUR POSITIVE RESPONSE VIA,E-MAIL OR
TELEPHONE.

ANTICIPATING YOUR URGENT REPLY.

BEST REGARDS,

MR PATRICK RAWLINGS.
PHONE:+233-243826907





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