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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.

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.linus scott" <linus.scott16@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <linusscott@myway.com>
Date: Sat, 3 Nov 2007 11:47:36 +0200
Subject: MAIL FROM MR LINUS SCOTT





FROM THE DESK OF MR. LINUS SCOTT FROM ABSA BANK OF SOUTH
AFRICA.JOHANNESBURG BRANCH.

Dear Friend,

My name is Mr linus scott. I am the Regional Manager of AMALGAMATED BANK OF SOUTH AFRICA (ABSA). Johannesburg branch. I write you this proposal in good faith; I am married with two lovely children. I am a man of peace, and have sincere respect for human feelings and opinions. I have packaged a financial transaction that will benefit you and I. As the Regional Manager of AMALGAMATED BANK OF SOUTH AFRICA (ABSA). Johannesburg branch, it is my duty to send in a financial report to my head office in the capital city, Petorial at the end of each business year.

On the course of last year, 2006 business report, I discovered that the branch in which I am the Manager made 18.2million United States Dollars ($18,200,000.00) which my head office is not aware of and will never be aware of. I have placed this funds on what we call Escrow call account with no beneficiary. As an officer of this bank I cannot be directly connected to this money, so my aim of contacting you is to assist me receive this money in your bank account and get 30% of the total funds as commission.

There are practically no risks involved, the transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law, it will be simply a bank-to-bank transfer, and all I need from you is to stand claim as the original depositor of these funds who made the deposit with my branch so that my head office can order the transfer to your designated bank account under few working days. If you accept to work with me I will appreciate it very much as you are the first and the only person I am contacting for this transaction.

send me an email as soon as you receive this message if you think so that we can go over the details.

Thank you in advance and may God bless you and your family.

Sincerely,Mr linus scott.

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