joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
 Free trial for 30 days
   jwSpamSpy
Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

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

Fraud email example:

From: "fred adams" <f-adams@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: f_adams212@walla.com
Date: Fri, 09 Feb 2007 08:10:56 +0100
Subject: READ AND REPLY ME

Dear Wouters,

I am Mr. FRED ADAMS, the Confidential Secretary to Late Mr. Humphry
williams a Foreigner and a high profile patrons of a Bank here in agos
Nigeria who died On December 30th 2002 in an air crash. see the below link
for read more news about the air crash:
www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/12/26/benin.crash/

Mr. Humphry williams, made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit, for twelve
calendar months with a Bank here and upon Maturity, they sent a routine
notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After a month, they
sent a reminder and finally I informed them of his death and they have
directed that I bring forward his Next of Kin to claim this account balance
because he died without making any 'WILL" .

The total sum is US$18.5M still in the 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. In accord with the Federal banking Laws and
Constitution, the money will revert to the ownership of the Government if
nobody applies as the next of Kin to claim the funds. Consequently, I shall
present you as a foreigner to stand in, as the next of kin to this
gentleman, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you, for us
to share.

Upon acceptance of this proposal, I shall give you detailed nformation on
how this deal would be carried out. We shall employ the services of an
advocate for the drafting of the letter of probate in your favor, and to
obtain all other relevant papers in your name for the necessary
documentation for payment endorsement in my bank.

The money will be shared in the ratio: 50% for me, 40% for you and 10% for
any arising contingencies during the course of this transaction. I guarantee
that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect
you from any breach of the law or any legal plight.The attorney will secure
approvals and guarantee the successful execution of this transaction. Please
be informed that your extreme discretion is required. If this interests
you, please reply me directly by email and indicate your full name, Address
Date of Birth, Your contact Telephone and fax numbers respectively. Upon
receipt of your response, I will prepare a Text of Application you will
send to my Bank Headquarters for payment approval in your favor.

I await your urgent reply.

Thanks.
Best regards,
Mr. FRED ADAMS

_________________________________________________________________
FREE pop-up blocking with the new MSN Toolbar - get it now!
http://toolbar.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200415ave/direct/01/


Anti-fraud resources: