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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: "bruce bryant" <brucebryant002@msn.com>
Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2006 10:42:21 +0000
Subject: IMPORTANT BUSSINESS DEALING

>From the office of: Mr. Bruce .B
BARCLAYS BANK PLC.
United Kingdom.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am Bruce Bryant . I am 56 years Of Age, a native of London .I got your
information while browsing through internet in search of a reliable person
who will assist me. On 21st of July 1990, an Oil consultant/contractor,
Mr.Kurt Kahle Korolev with BARCLAYS DUTCH PETROLEUM COMPANY, he made a
numbered time (fixed) deposit for twelve calendar months, valued
atUS$20,700,000.00(Twenty Million Seven Hundred Thousand Dollars) with
BARCLAYS BANK PLC branch upon maturity. I sent a routine notification to his
forwarding address but got no reply.

After a month, we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his Private
Business School. Employers, that On the 31st of July 2000, our client, with
his 37-year-old wife and his son Mike, aged eight. Died in the Air France
concord plane crash bound for New York in their plan for a world cruise,
with other passengers abroad as you can confirm it yourself via the website
below:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm
on further investigation, I found out that he died without making a will,
and attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless. I therefore made
further investigation and discovered that Mr. Kurt Kahle Korolev did not
declare any next of kin or relations in all his official documents,
including his bank deposit paperwork in BARCLAYS BANK PLC. This sum of
US$20,700,000.00 is still in BARCLAYS BANK PLC and the interest is being
rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year. No one will ever
come forward to claim it. According to the law of the country, at the
expiration of (five) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the
Scotland Government if nobody applies to claim the fund. Consequently, my
proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand as the next of kin
to Mr. Kurt Kahle Korolev so that the fruit of this old man's labor will not
get into the hands of some corrupt Government officials. This is simple, I
will like you to provide immediately your full name and address so that the
Attorney will prepare the necessary documents and affidavits, which will put
you in place as the next of kin to Mr. Kurt Kahle Korolev. We shall employ
the service of attorney for the drafting and notarization of the WILL and
obtain the necessary documents and letter of probate/administration in your
favor for the transfer.

Any bank account in any part of the world that you will provide will then
facilitate the transfer of this money to you as the beneficiary/next of kin.
The money will be paid into your account for us to share in ratio of 60% for
me and 40% for you. There is no risk at all; he attorney and my position
will do the paperwork for this transaction as the Branch Manager guarantees
the successful execution of this transaction. If you are interested, please
reply immediately via the private email address below, upon your response
shall provide you with more details and relevant documents that will help
you understand the transaction. Please observe utmost confidentiality and be
rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for both of us
because I shall require your assistance to invest my share in your country.
Please upon the receipt of this mail message, send to me the following
information to my private email address, to enable start the processing of
documentation in your favor as the next of kin to Mr. Kurt Kahle Korolev.

1. Your Full Name
2. Your Private Telephone And Fax Numbers.
3 Your Addresses.
4 Your company name.
Immediately I receive a mail indicating your interest I shall send you more
details.
Thanks and regards,
Mr. Bruce Bryant.


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