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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: "Frank Clify" <frank_clify@msn.com>
Reply-To: frankclify12@bizhat.com
Date: Fri, 21 Oct 2005 09:22:44 +0000
Subject: URGENT ATTENTION PLEASE AND GET BACK TO ME

DEAR FRIEND
I am sorry if you in any way find my mail embarrasing or offensive. I
however will like to do a personal transaction with you if you can give it
the importance it deserves.
MY NAME IS FRANK CLIFY ,LAWYER BY PROFESSION AND PERSONAL ASSISTANCE TO LATE
MR MARTIN GREENBERG.I AM WRITTING IN RESPECT OF A FOREIGN CUSTOMER OF EURO
CREDIT AND LOANS (MR. MARTIN GREENBERG OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WHO
PERISHED IN THE PLANE CRASH OF 31 OCTOBER 1999[WITH EGYPTIAN AIRLINE 990]
WITH OTHER PASSENGERS ABOARD. SINCE THE DEMISE OF MR. MARTIN
GREENBERG,RIDGEFIELD,CONNECTICUT, I PERSONALLY HAVE WATCHED WITH KEEN
INTEREST TO SEE THE NEXT OF KIN BUT ALL HAS PROVED ABORTIVE AS NO ONE HAS
COME TO CLAIM HIS FUNDS OF USD30M,[THRITY MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS]HAS
BEEN WITH THIS BANK HERE FOR A VERY LONG TIME.ON THIS NOTE I DECIDED TO SEEK
FOR WHOM HIS NAME SHALL BE USED AS THE NEXT OF KIN,AS NO ONE HAS COME UP TO
PUT CLAIM AS THE NEXT OF KIN TO THIS FUNDS AND THE BANKING ETHICS HERE DOES
NOT ALLOW SUCH MONEY TO STAY
MORE THAN SEVEN YEARS,BECAUSE AFTER SEVEN YEARS THE MONEY WILL BE CALLED
BACK TO THE BANK TREASURY AS UNCLAIMED BILL. IN VIEW OF THIS I GOT YOUR
CONTACT OVER THE INTERNET I WAS CONVINCED IN MY MIND THAT YOUR NAME/COMPANY
COULD BE USED AS THE NEXT OF KIN TO THIS CLAIM.THE REQUEST
OF A FOREIGNER AS A NEXT OF KIN IN THIS BUSINESS IS CCASIONED BY THE FACT
THAT THE CUSTOMER WAS A FOREIGNER AND A BRITISH CANNOT STAND AS THE NEXT OF
KIN TO A FOREIGNER.I AGREED THAT 30% OF THIS MONEY WILL BE FOR YOU AS A
FOREIGN PARTNER IN RESPECT OF PROVIDING AN ACCOUNT
WHILE 10% WILL TAKE OF ANY EXPENSES THAT MIGHT BE INCURED IN THE PROCEES OF
SUCCEEDING THE TRANSFER AND THE REST WILL BE FOR ME AND MY INSIDER IN THE
BANK.THEREAFTER I WILL VISIT YOUR COUNTRY FOR DISBURSEMENT.
I WILL NOT FAIL TO BRING TO YOUR NOTICE THAT THIS BUSINESS IS HITCH FREE AND
THAT YOU SHOULD NOT ENTERTAIN ANY FEAR AS THE WHOLE REQUIRED ARRANGEMENT HAS
BEEN PERFECTED FOR THE TRANSFER. FURTHERMORE,AS HIS PERSONAL ASSISTANCE,I
HAD ACCESS TO SOME VITAL DOCUMENTS THAT WILL FACILITATE THE TRANSFER OF THE
FUND.HOWEVER,MY PARTNER IN THE BANK WILL ALSO BE THERE TO FURNISH ME WITH
OTHER VITAL INFORMATION.
HOPING TO HEAR FROM YOU.
BEST REGARDS,
FRANK JERRY.
E-mail address;frankclify12@bizhat.com


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