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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: "Andrew Bignell" <bignellandrew005@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: andrewbignell2006@hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 31 Jan 2007 14:48:51 +0000
Subject: GIVE YOUR CONSENT OF INTEREST!

Dear Sir,
 
My name is Andrew Charles Bignell. I trained and work as an external auditor for the Development Bank of United Kingdom , working as part of a bigger team that covers the entire Asian region. I discovered some investment accounts that had been dormant for at least Twelve years. All the accounts belong to a single/one account holder with monies totalling a little above 83.6 million United States Dollars. Now banking regulation/legislation in UK demand that I do notify the fiscal authorities after a statutory time span of twelve years when dormant accounts of this type are called in by the UK Monetary Regulatory bodies.
 
The above set of facts underscores my reason of writing and proposing to you. My investigation of the said account reveals that the investor, had died in 1994,the exact time the account was last operated. I can confirm with certainty that the said investor died interstate and no next-of-Kin to his estate has been found or has come forward all these years.
 
I am of the settled conviction that using my insider leverage, I, working with you can secure the funds in the account for us instead of allowing it pass as unclaimed funds into the coffers of the Government of UK. This is especially possible as you bear the same LAST NAME to the said investor. This exactly is why I crave your participation and co-operation. I am seized with all relevant documents (legal and Banking) that will facilitate our putting you forward as the claimant/beneficiary of the funds and ultimately transfer the money to an account to be nominated by you.
 
Of course you shall be handsomely rewarded for your part in this transaction as the people I am working with are prepared to allocate a 30% slice of the total funds for your efforts.
 
I shall however leave out the finer details of this transaction till I receive an affirmation of your desire to participate. Rest assured that I am on top of the situation all the time and there will be no risk whatsoever if you elect to come on board. Needless to say, UTMOST CONFIDENTIALITY is of vital importance if we are to successfully reap the immense benefits of this transaction.
 
Find below written email contact that you may reach me with. I shall furnish you with a telephone number to reach me as soon as you signify your willingness to assist in this mutually beneficial transaction.
I do expect your prompt response.
 
Truly,
Andrew Charles Bignell
 
NOTE: send your response to my private mail box: andrewbignell2006@hotmail.com OR andrewcbignell552@yahoo.co.uk


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