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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: "PATRICK BLANCO" <kuxta22@lycos.es>
Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2006 21:30:20 +0200
Subject: THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY(LET US TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT)



NAME:PATRICK BLANCO
ADDRESS:CALLE MARIAN 6
28005,MADRID SPAIN
TELL:+34-627-618-356
PRIVATE EMAIL- patrickblanco22@iol.pt

PROPOSITION;
I am Mr.Patrick Blanco, the Auditor General of a reputable bank in Spain ,during the course of our auditing I discovered a floating fund in an account opened in the bank in 1990 and since 1991 till date nobody has operated on this account again, after going through some old files in the records I
discovered an abandoned deposit in my bank by one of our foreign customers who died
along with his entire family as a result of an automobile crash. He actually made a numbered time (fixed)deposit valued at US$12,000,000.00 ( Twelve million united states dollars),for twelve calender months in my bank.The funds was actually meant for a project our late
client wanted to start in the near future (a multi million Dollar steel plant in Canada), I sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After a month, I sent a reminder and finally we discovered that Mr.Ken Huan died from an automobile accident with his entire family
in China .On further investigation, I found out that he died without making a Will, and all attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless. I therefore made further investigation and discovered that Mr. Ken Huan did not declare any next of kin or relations in all his official documents,including his Bank deposit paperwork in our Bank.Upon this discovery, I now seek your permission to have you stand as a next of kin to the deceased as all documentations will be carefully worked out by me for the funds to be released in your favour as the beneficiary's next of kin. Please acknowledge receipt of this message in acceptance of our mutual business endeavour by furnishing me with the following informations;

1. FULL MAMES AND ADDRESS:
2. DIRECT TELEPHONE NUMBER AND FAX NUMBERS:
3. OCCUPATION AND POSITION:
4. NATIONALITY
5. MARITAL STATUS:
6. AGE /SEX:

These requirements will enable me file letter of claim to the appropriate departments for necessary approvals in your favour before i could proceed on the transfer of the funds to the designated account of your choice.
I shall be compensating you with 35% of the total money while 65% will be mine on final conclusion of this project If this proposal is acceptable by you, do not take undue advantage of the trust I have bestowed in you, I await your urgent replyl. Please reply to my private and confidential email: patrickblanco22@iol.pt






Best Regards,
Mr. Patrick Blanco



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