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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: "MR TERY GEM" <terygem_10@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Date: Mon, 10 Apr 2006 11:30:27 +0100
Subject: REPLY

THE:DESK OF MR TERY GEM.
ECO BANK GHANA,
AUDITING DEPARTMENT
OFFICE ADDRESS: AVEN 20 BOUVEDE
ACCRA-GHANA .
Dear Friend
I am MR. TERY GEM, from the auditing section of the
ECOBANK ACCRA GHANA. With due respect and
regards,I have decided to contact you on a business
transaction that will be very Beneficial to both of
us at the end of the transaction.
During investigation and auditing in the bank,my
department came across a very huge sum of money
belonging to a deceased person,a foreigner who died
on 31st October 1999 in a plane crash and the fund has
been dormant in his account with the bank without any
claim of the fund either from his family or relation
before discovery to this development.
Although personally,I kept this information secret
within myself to enable the whole plans and idea be
profitable and successful during the time of
execution.
The amount involved is(22m US$)Twentytwo Million
United States Dollars only. As it may interest you to
know that,i got your your contact address through
internet and i believe that you will be viable and
capable to champion a business of such magnitude
without any problem. Meanwhile all the whole
arrangement to put claim over this fund as the
bona-fide next of kin to the deceased,get the
required
approval and transfer this money to a foreign account
has been put in place and directives/needed
information will be relayed to you as soon as you
indicate your interest and willingness to assist and
also benefit your self to this great business
opportunity. In fact,I could have done this deal alone
but because
of my position in this country as a civil servant,we
are not allowed to operate a foreign account and
would eventually raise an eye brow on my side during
the
time of transfer because I work in this bank.This is
the actual reason why it requires a second party or
fellow who will forward claims to the bank as the
next of kin to the deceased . The money will be
re-transfered on his request as it may be,after
due verification and clarification to his designated
bank account.I will not fail to inform you that this
transaction is 100% risk free. On smooth conclusion
of this transaction,you will be entitled to 30% of the
total sum as gratification,while 5% will be set aside
to take care of the expenses that may arise during
the time of the transfer such as telephone bills
etc,while 65% will be for me and other investments in
your
country under your care.Please,you have been advice
to keep top secret as i am still in service and intend
to retire from service after the conclusion of this
deal
with you.I will be monitoring the whole situation
herein the bank until you confirm the money in your
account and ask me to come down to your country for
subsequent sharing of the fund according to
percentages previously indicated and further
investment,either in your country or in any other
country you may advice to invest on. All other
necessary information will be sent to you when I hear
from you. Get back to me as soon as possible stating
your wish to this transaction.
You can also respond to this mail through this email address below.
lidiamary@tsamail.co.za
Yours Faithfully,
MR TERY GEM


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