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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: "walter ray" <walter_ray_201@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 13 Feb 2006 17:29:25 +0200
Subject: FROM: MR WALTER RAY

FROM: MR WALTER RAY
FNB SOUTH AFRICA BANK
PRETORIA BRANCH

Dear Sir,

Pardon my approach without a prior consent. My name is Walter Ray , one of
the FNB Bank manager here in South Africa Pretoria Branch. I am a South
Africa citizen married with two kids. I have packaged a financial
transaction that will be of immense benefit to both of us.

As FNB manager Pretoria branch, it is my duty to send financial reports to
my head office in the capital city of Pretoria. On the course of the last
four years, I discovered that an account with US$7.5 Million (SEVEN MILLION
FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) is declared dormant. This
account belongs to a foreign investor Late Mr. GodeFroid Bukuru.

I conducted a routine check and I discovered that he is dead. So in my quest
to locate his family I discover that is only child died two month after his
death which left no one to claim his money before I got your contact. The
banking law and guidelines here stipulates that such money remained after
five years the money will be transferred into banking treasury as unclaimed
funds if nobody applies to claim the fund.

Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you to stand in as the next of
kin to the depositor Late Mr. GodeFroid Bukuru. As an officer of the bank, I
cannot be directly connected to this money thus I am compelled to request
for your assistance to receive this money into your bank account. I agreed
that 35% of this money would be for you as foreign partner, while the
balance will be for me and my colleagues .

We will visit your country for the disbursement according to the percentages
indicated
above once this money gets into your account. Please be honest to my
colleagues and me and trust is our watchword in this transaction. We do need
to assure you that there is practically no risk involved in this
transaction. It is going to be a bank-to-bank transfer. I shall provide all
relevant depository documents, that might be required, and as a banker I
will use my office to provide information that might be required from you.

Looking forward to hearing from you, incase of any question do not hesitate
to phone me on my mobile number + 27-781-286-275 anytime.

Regards,
Mr. Walter Ray.
+ 27-781-286-275

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