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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: "Peter Scott" <peterscot334@gazeta.pl>
Reply-To: peterscot5@live.com
Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2008 23:08:50 -0700
Subject: FROM MR SCOTT


Attention:Sir/Madam

I am an auditor in an European bank and clearing house in London.

Our duty is to look into transaction record of banks, securities companies
and financial houses within Europe based on the directive of British Prime
Minister Mr Gordon Brown.

We also work in collaboration with American, Asian, African and Australian
clearing houses. During my investigation we discovered un-paid debts from
different banks and securities companies, worth over 400m pounds lying on
paid with Banks in London and that you are to be paid for an INHERITTED
FUND/ASSET, which requires presentation of certain documents and payment of
fees before the fund could be released to you.

View the website for more information:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5171222.stm

I want to inform you that the problem you are having is from your partners
and the lawyer who is representing you,They do not reveal the reason for the
delay of your payment and the reason you should pay the money they demand
from you.

My reason for contacting you is to inform you to stop payment of any such to
the lawyer or to the financial bank and securities companies as you will not
receive your fund due to some anomalies we discovered in your file.

We are to protect your interest contact me immediately so we can advice you
on how you will receive your fund without any impediment.

You are hereby advised to maintain constant contact with me and avoid any
interaction with unscrupulous agents, partners or lawyers.

Yours faithfully,
Mr peter Scott

Anti-fraud resources: