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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: Richard Coleman <richardcoleman-18@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <mail4mrcoleman@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 13 Jun 2007 04:48:26 +0400
Subject: Info On Mr. William



Hello, I have writen an earlier mail to you but no response. I am Mr. Richard Coleman. An audit staff in a Commercial Bank here in the UK. At the last Financial audit that was carried out in my company We discovered that some accounts has been dormant for more that 4 years now. On further inspection I found out that there is this particular account that belonged to a deceased customer who shares the same surname with you. The record shows that the customer died around April 2003. And since then none of the kins registered in his account opening form could be traced. And the next option left for the Bank is to confiscate the account and turn the money back to the state. I have conducted my personal search to see if I can make contact with any of his relatives but without success, it is in the course of my effort that I have to contact you. The total sum left in the account is $2, 645,000 (Two million Six hundred and forty fivethousand United states dollars). Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the the relatives for about 4 years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued at US$2, 645,000 can be paid to you and then you and I can share this money. In a manner that we shall both agree on, after deducting all expences and taxes as your Government may require. I assure you that the claim we are going to make will be legitmate since I will get the neccessary documents that will back it up, only if you can guarantee me of your honesty and commitment. Mail me back if you are interested or should you need further clearification. Thanks and God bless. Richard Coleman.
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