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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: Simon Simon <stbremittancedept@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 20 Oct 2006 07:44:51 +0000
Subject: URGENT BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

Registered Address;
9th Floor,Standard Bank Centre
5 Simmonds Street
Johannesburg
2001.P O Box 7725
Johannesburg
2000
Dir.Line,Private:+27 7222 94 252
Dear Foley,
 
I am Mr.Simon Ridley, The Provincial Financial Director Standard Bank of South Africa, Johannesburg Branch. I have urgent and very confidential business proposition for you. On May 6, 1999, a foreign Oil consultant/contractor with the South Africa Mining Corporation, Mr. Frank Williams, madea numbered time (Fixed) Deposit for twelve calendar months, valued at US$11,500,000.00 (Eleven Million five Hundred Thousand United StatesDollars) in my branch.
 
Upon maturity, I sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply.
After a month, we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his contract employers, the South Africa Mining Corporation that Mr. Frank Williams, died from an automobile accident which is about seven years now. 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. Frank Williams did not declare any kin or relations in all his official documents, including his Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank. This sum of US$11,500,000.00 (Eleven Million five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) is still sitting in my Bank and the interest is being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year. No one will ever come forward to claim it.
 
According to South Africa Law, at the expiration of 7 (Seven) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the South Africa Government if nobody applies to claim the fund. Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in as the next of kin to Mr. Frank Williams, so that the fruits of this old man's labor will not get into the hands of some corrupt government officials. This is simple, I will like you to provide immediately your full names and address so that an Attorney will prepare the necessary documents and affidavits, which will put you in place as the next of kin. We shall employ the service of the Attorney for drafting and notarization of the
WILL and to obtain the necessary documents and letter of probate/administration in your favor for the transfer. A bank account in any part of the world, which you will provide, will then facilitate the transfer of this fund to you as the beneficiary/next of kin.
 
The fund will be paid into your account for us to share in the ratio of 70% for me and 30% for you. There is no risk at all as all the paperwork for this transaction will be done by the Attorney and my position as the Provincial Financial Director guarantees the successful execution of this Deal. If you are interested, please reply immediately via this private email address above: Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more details and relevant documents that will help you understand the transaction.
 
Please observe utmost confidentiality, and rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require your assistance to invest my share in your country.
Awaiting your urgent reply via email, OR Phone call, for more confidential.
Thank you,
 
Mr.Simon Ridley
Financial Director
Standard Bank,South Africa


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