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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 GREG Mcarthy" <greg_mcarthy@klikni.cz>
Date: Sat, 24 May 2008 04:50:49 -0700
Subject: From: Mr.Greg Mcarthy


*

From: Mr.Greg Mcarthy
Estate Trust Bank
Kerewan-Branch
Gambia.

Dear Friend,

It will be a surprise for you to receive this mail.
I am Mr. Greg Mcarthy the Director of the Account & Auditing Dept.of
Estate Trust Bank (Etbank) . With due respect, I have decided to
contact you on a business transaction that will be beneficial to both
of us. At the bank's last account/auditing evaluations, I came across
an old account which was being maintained by a foreign customer who we
learnt died on a sudden motor accident along Togo -Gambia expressroad
on his way back to Gambia with his entire family (his wife and his
only child) on the 6th Nov. 2003.

Since the deceased was unable to opearte this account since his death
( almost 4 years now) this account has remained dormant without the
knowledge of his family and no member of his family has applied for
this fund because he did not name his next of kin while depositing the
fund. It was put in a safe deposit account in the bank for future
investment by "deceased" our customer . Since our client is a foreign
national and did not name any next of kin here to file claims over the
money,I with a few personnel in my dept, have decided to seek ways
through which to transfer this money out of the bank to a foreign
country .

The total amount in the accounts is Twelve Million Five Hundred
Thousand U.S. Dollars ($12,5Million). With our positions as staff of
the bank, we are handicapped because we cannot operate foreign
accounts or transfer this fund without the asistance of a foreigner to
stand as the next of kin to the deceased. While contemplating on whom
to use as next of kin to the deceased, I came across your email
contact in the internet directory and I decided to ask you for help to
transfer this money out of my country to a foreign country. Since the
deceased is a foreign national , you will only be asked to act as his
next of kin or business partner. I will supply you with all necessary
informations and bank data to assist you transfer this money to any
bank of your choice .

I have decided to give away 35% to you for your assistance,65% is for
us the officials and ten (10%) for any expenses that might arise
during this transaction . All documents and proof that will enable you
claim this fund successfully will be fowarded to you upon your
response with the following:
*


*1.) Your full names and address. 2.) Your age and occupation
3.) Your direct phone/fax numbers for easy communication.
I guarantee that this transaction will be executed under a legitimate
arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law BUT
please keep this transaction a top secret Your urgent/honest responce
will highly be appreciated.
My Tel.No. is 234-805-043-3166.*
*


Regards,
Mr. Greg Mcarthy
Pls.reply to this E-mail **greg_mcarthy102@yahoo.co.jp *

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