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: "godwinmark21 Gazeta.pl" <godwinmark21@gazeta.pl>
Date: Mon, 26 May 2008 19:39:25 +0100
Subject: From Mr Godwin Mark.


*From Mr Godwin Mark.
Cotonou Benin Republic.*
*Reply and please call me+229-93819374.*
**
*
26/ 05 / 2008.*
* *
**
*DEAR FRIEND, *
**
*I AM MR.GODWIN MARK, THE PRESENT BRANCH MANAGER OF A BANK HERE IN BENIN
REPUBLIC WEST AFRICA. With due respect and regard.I have decided to contact
you on a business transaction that will be very beneficial to both of us at
the end of the transaction.*
**
*During our investigation and auditing in our bank, my department came
across a very huge sum of money belonging to a deceased person Mr. ANDREAS
SCHRANNER a German great industrialist and a resident of Munich, who
unfortunately lost his life along with his entire famillies in the plane
crash of CONCORDE AIRLINE [Flight AF4590 ] which crashed on 25TH JULY, 2000.
You shall read more news about the crash on visiting this site :*
**
*http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm*<http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm>

*Since then I have made several enquiries to locate any of his extended
family relatives, but all efforts proved abortive.I saw your contact from
the business directory in our chamber of commerce, trade and tourism, I
contact you to assist in repatriating the fund valued at US 25.5 million
left behind before it gets confiscated or declared unclaimed by our Bank
where this huge amount was deposited.*
**
*Our Bank has issued a notice to provide his next of kin and since I have
been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over five year , I seek the
consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased deposited sum in
our Bank so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you.*
**
*Therefore, on receipt of your positive response, we shall then discuss the
sharing ratio and modalities for the transfer. I have all necessary
information and legal documents needed to back you up for the claim which I
payed greatly to acquire. All I require from you is your honest and full
cooperation to enable us see this transaction through.I guarantee that this
attract no risk at all for it will be executed under legitimate arrangement
that will protect you from any breach of the law.*
**
*On the receipt of your response via the above email address, I will furnish
you with a detailed clarification on this matter.Please if you are ready to
work with me i want you to indicate your interest by sending your full
contact informations such your personal phone number or office/fax,Your
occupation and your country of origin.You can reply me through this my
e-mail address.(**godwinmark101@sify.com* <godwinmark101@sify.com>*)*
**
**
*THANKS.
GODWIN MARK.*

Anti-fraud resources: