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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: Werst Shane <werstshane@aim.com>
Date: Thu, 25 May 2006 17:22:46 +0200
Subject: Dr.Werst Shane


Dear Friend,
My name is Dr. Werst Shane and I work in the claim department of Ecowas bank
west Africa as an investigator. Please permit to use this means, to bring a
business suggestion to you.
As an investigator for the bank, I am responsible for a lot of work associated
with claims verification. Few days ago someone wrote a claim application to the
bank and was making claim to the dormant account of a customer. I was directed
to investigate the claim because the claim applicant, stated that the customer
was dead and he is the next of kin to the account.
In the course of my investigation I discovered that true to what the applicant
said, the customer by name Mr Sayed is dead. Further investigation also revealed
that the person making the claim was not related to the late Mr Sayed and he
tried to make claim based on the fact that the deceased did not declare a next
of kin in the official bank account opening papers. By this therefore, any one
with proper information could come forward and claim the amount,Eight million,four
hundred thousand Dollars($18,400,00Usd) lying in this bank account.
On finding out these details, I decided to keep it to myself because if I should
reveal it to the management, the fund shall be converted to the bank directors
use. Against this backdrop, my suggestion is that I will like you as a foreigner
to stand as the next of kin to Mr Sayed so that we will be able to receive his
fund in your name without any problem.
WHAT IS TO BE DONE:
I have worked out everything so that we shall come out successful. First I shall
inform the management that I found you as the true relative of the deceased
account owner. I shall contact an attorney that will prepare the necessary
documents that will back you up as the next of kin to Major Sayed Basem. All that
will be required from you, is for you to provide me with your Full Name and
address so that the attorney can commence on the job.
These documents shall make you the legal next of kin and beneficiary of the
account deposit and after this, the attorney will secure the necessary approval
documents in your favor so the fund will be transferred to an account that will
be provided by you. There is no risk involved in the matter since we shall adopt
a legalized method in the process. Meanwhile please endeavor to observe utmost
discretion in all matters concerning this issue.
Once the fund have been transfered to your nominated bank account,For your mutual assistance in actualizing this our objective, I have agreed to offer you a cash reward of the total amount of the money for your assistance,depend on your response.send me your full name and current residential address,contact telephone number.
Finally, your earliest response to this letter will be appreciated. If by any
means you are not interested in the matter, please discard it and do not tell
any other person about it.
Dr.Werst Shane

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