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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: Graham Smith <smigra778@msn.com>
Date: Wed, 4 Jun 2008 23:58:00 +0000
Subject: (PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL) ---CAN I TRUST YOU?



(PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL) This matter is confidential and should be treated as such.Hello,I am Dr.Graham Smith,the director in charge of auditing and accounting section of one of the prime banks in Europe,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.While reconciliation of records in my Department,I discovered an abandoned sum of Twenty Million,five hundred thousand U.S Dollars ($20.5 Million) that belongs to one of our customers who died along with his entire family,in the Concorde plane crash [Flight AF4590 ] that occured on 25TH JULY,2000 with the whole passengers aboard.The name of the deceased man was (MR. ANDREAS SCHRANNER from Munich,Germany),you can visit the following website for details of the crash; ( http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm) In fact I could have done this deal alone but because of my position as a staff of the bank,and considering the fact that my direct involvement may eventually give room for suspicions in the bank,hence my decision to seek the collaboration and support of a reliable and capable foreign Partner through whom the fund can be transferred out of the bank.I dont want this money to go into the Bank's treasury as unclaimed Bill,besides our Banking law and guidelines here stipulates that if such fund remained unclaimed after five years,the fund will be confiscated and transferred into the Bank's treasury as unclaimed fund. The request of a foreigner as next of kin in this business is occasioned by the fact that the customer was a foreigner,and only a foreigner can stand as next of kin to the deceased account owner,this is why I have contacted you so that we can join hands to pull this deal through successfully.This deal is 100% risk-free,I have the support of a capable Attorney here who will help us to procure the necessary legal documents that will facilitate the release of the fund to you as next of kin to the late account owner,I shall give you all necessary information about the account as soon as I get your reply assuring me of your readiness to handle the said deal with me as required. Finally upon successful conclusion of this deal,you will be entitled to 30% share of the entire fund in the account as compensation for your involvement in the deal,do remember to include your private telephone numbers in your reply to enable me contact you for further discussions on this matter.Regards,Dr.Graham Smith.

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