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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: scottnrci7@zipmail.com.br
Date: Fri, 4 Jan 2008 10:33:46 +0000
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Business=20Proposal=2E?=

Business Proposal.


Firstly let me introduce myself,I am Mr.Nelson Scott,a staff in the accounts
department of Ecobank Plc here in the Ivory Cost.

One of our accounts with holding balance of US$26,000,000
(Twenty million United State Dollars) has been dormant
and has not been operated for the past six (6) years.
>From my investigations and confirmations, the owner of this
account, a foreigner by name Kurt Kahle died in July, 2000 see this;

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm

since then nobody has done anything as regards the
claiming of this money because he has no family members who
are aware of the existence neither of the account nor the funds.

I have secretly discussed this matter with a senior official
of this Bank and we have agreed to find a reliable foreign
partner to deal with. We thus propose to do business with you,
standing in as the next of kin of these funds from the
deceased and funds released to you after due processes have
been followed and we ready to offer you 20% of the US$26m for
your co-operation and assistance on this project.

This transaction is totally free of risk and as the fund is
legitimate and does not originate from drug, money laundry,
terrorism or any other illegal act. On receipt of your
response I will furnish you with detailed clarification as it
relates to this mutual benefit transaction.

I am looking forward to hearing from you as soon as possible,

Mr.Nelson Scott





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