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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: "Mr Andrew Thomas" <andrewthomasscb2@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: andrewthomas_scb01@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Fri, 02 Feb 2007 08:26:32 -0800
Subject: WAITING FOR YOUR COOPERATION

NOTE: YOUR RESPONSE SHOULD BE MADE ON THIS EMAIL ADDRESS,
(
andrewthomas_scb01@yahoo.co.uk
Attn Friend.
First, I'm soliciting your utmost confidenciality in this Transaction.
I am Mr Andrew thomas the head/Investment wealth Manager Standard Chartered Bank plc Main Office-1 Aldermanbury Square, London EC2V 7SB, Aldermanbury Square, London.
 
One of our customers who bears the same name with you,a National of your country who used to work with Exxon Mobil here in london.  an experienced, independent, oil and gas company with a proven track record of oilfield exploration died On the 12th of November 2001 on his way  to see his wifes parent.   His wife a Caribbean from Dominican Republic and their two daughters were involved in a Plane crash American Airlines Flight 587 that left JFK airport on its way to the capital, Santa Domingo, when it crashed in a New York suburb killing  265 people on board. Since then We have made several inquiries to your embassy here to locate any of his extended relatives, which has been unsuccessful since 2001.
 
After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track over the Internet, to locate any member of his family or relative hence I contacted you.I'm taking this advantage in order to better my life and that of my family. I have contacted you to assist in repatriating  the fund valued at £10,320,000.00 (Ten million three hundred and twenty thousand pound sterling ) Left behind by our customer before it get Confiscated by the Government or declared unserviceable by our bank where he had a credit balance of £10,320,000.00 (Ten million three hundred and twenty thousand  Great British pounds sterling ).According to the British law of Inheritance Act, at the expiration of 5 years with three months running Grace (5/3 years], the money will revert to the ownership of the British Government if nobody applies to claim the fund and the  five years is this month with the three months which will elapse by January 2007.
 
For the fact that I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives since then I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you.I have secured from the probate an order of mandamus to locate any of the deceased beneficiaries, and more so I am assuring you that the business is risk free involvement.
 
Therefore, on receipt of your positive response, i shall then discuss the percentage that is coming to me after the money is  been credited in your chosen account and the modalities for transfer.We will work together in procuring the necessary legal documents that may be needed to actualize this proposal since I will contract the services of our bank accredited lawyer who will legally represent you here. All I require from you is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee you  that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will  protect you from any breach of the law.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/world/newsid_1653000/1653686.stm
If this proposal is acceptable by you, kindly get back to me .I want you to also furnish me with your private telephone/fax or preferably your mobile numbers contact address, occupation,Age,and everyother information that will enhance a free and fair transaction.which will enable me to apply for the release and subsequent transfer of the fund in your favour.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation.
Yours Faithfully,
Mr Andrew Thomas.


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