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: "MR. MARC FRAD" <marc_frad8@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <marc_frad@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 8 Jun 2007 03:50:28 -0400
Subject: CLASIFFIED REQUEST (URGENT REPLY)



GOOD DAY, FORGIVE ME FOR AN UNSOLICITED MAIL BUT WITH DUE
REGARDS TO YOU, I AM Mr.MARC FRAD AND I WORK IN THE OPERATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF AN INTERNATIONAL BANK HERE IN BIRMINGHAM UK. I
CONTACT YOU WITH RESPECT TO THE DISCOVERY I MADE ON A ROUTINE
INSPECTION IN THE BANK WHERE I DISCOVERED A DORMANT DOMICILIARY ACCOUNT
WITH A BALANCE OF $13,000,000 USD. ON FURTHER INVESTIGATION,I
DISCOVERED THAT HE WAS AMONG THE VICTIMS OF AN UNFORTUNATE BOMB
EXPLOSION THAT OCCURRED SOMEWHERE IN AFRICA ON AN OFFICIAL TOUR. BELOW ARE THE WEBSITES OF THE EXPLOSION: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/2718295.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/2698081.stm
I CONTACTED YOU THROUGH THIS DIRECTORY CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT YOU
BEAR THE SAME LAST NAME WITH THE DECEASED AND THUS THIS SHOULD BE SEEN
AS AN "EXPRESS TICKET" TO THE SUCCESS OF THIS TRANSACTION HENCE I
INTEND TO PRESENT YOU AS THE BENEFICIARY OF THIS FUND IF YOU WOULD
FOLLOW MY DIRECTIVES AND EMPLOY SINCERITY,COMMITMENT AND TRUST TO THIS
TRANSACTION. YOUR FINANCIAL CAPABILITY AT THIS POINT WOULD DO
YOU A LOT OF GOOD CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO EMPLOY AND
PAY FOR THE SERVICES OF A COMPETENT LONDON BASED LAWYER WHO SHALL TAKE
CHARGE OF THE LEGAL DRAFTING AND DOCUMENTATION OF THIS CLAIM. THIS WILL FACILITATE THE RELEASE AND TRANSFER OF THIS FUND WITH
RESPECT TO THE DUE PROCESS HAVING BEEN FULLY OBSERVED AND TO AVERT THE
CLAWS OF THE LAW AND THE INTERNATIONAL MONEY LAUNDERING POLICY OF THIS
COUNTRY THUS REDUCING THE RISKS OF BREAKING THE LAW TO A MINIMAL VALUE.
INDICATE YOUR INTEREST AND INSTATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO THIS AGREEING TO
ALL TERMS SO THAT YOU WILL BE ACQUAINTED WITH THE NECESSARY DETAILS AND
ALSO COMMENCE NEGOTIATIONS ON SPLITTING OF THE MONEY AND MODALITIES FOR
TRANSFER. YOURS SINCERELY, MARC FRAD[Mr].

_________________________________________________________________
Live Earth is coming.  Learn more about the hottest summer event - only on MSN.
http://liveearth.msn.com?source=msntaglineliveearthwlm

Anti-fraud resources: