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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: "Cathy Jennings" <Catherinejenings@bblfinancial.com>
Reply-To: Catherinejennings@bblfinancial.com
Date: Tue, 11 Apr 2006 12:47:02 +0100
Subject: Client Enquiry ref: [BKL011/01960-8]




11-04-06
Sincere Greetings,


My name is Catherine Jennings I work with the Private Banking Division
At Berkeley Bank Limited, London. We are conducting a standard
process investigation in relation to matters involving a client who
shares the same name as yours (Kessler) and also the circumstances
surrounding investments made by this client at our bank.

Our Berkeley Banking client died intestate and nominated no next of
kin to inherit the title over the investments made with our bank.

The essence of this communication with you is to request you provide us
information on three issues:

1-Are you aware of any relative/relation who shares your same name
whose last known contact address was in Brussels ?

2-Are you aware of any investment of considerable value made by such a
person at the Private Banking Division of Berkeley Bank?

3-Can you establish beyond reasonable doubt your eligibility to assume
status of next of kin to the deceased?

It is pertinent that you inform us ASAP whether or not you are familiar
With this individual that we may put an end to this communication with
you and our inquiries surrounding this person.

You must appreciate that we are constrained from providing you with
More detailed information at this point. Please respond to this mail as
soon as possible to afford us the opportunity to close this
investigation.

Thank you for accommodating our enquiry.
Cathy Jennings
For: Thomas Masters:
Director Berkeley Private Clients.





Anti-fraud resources: