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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: "michael brown" <michbrown2000@unimail.mn>
Reply-To: michaelbrown2000@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2008 05:49:20 -0700
Subject: I REALLY DO APPRICIATE YOU. PLZ GET BACK TO ME


Dear,
Good day, Firstly, I apologize for sending you this sensitive
information via e-mail instead of a
Certified mail/Post-mail. This is due to the urgency
and importance of the information. Hence, this letter to you. I humbly
crave your indulgence to read this e-mail with all seriousness of
purpose devoid of any doubt in your mind because this project is based
on Trust, Confidentiality and Sincerity of purpose in order to have
an acceptable meeting of the minds.

My name is Mr michael brown ,in charge of Credit and
Foreign bills of International Bank Of Africa Plc (IBA).
I am writing in respect of a foreign customer of my bank with account
number 14-255-114 whose name is Nam, Hyewon, passport
country unknown. who perished in a
plane crash[Korean Air Flight 801] with the whole
passengers aboard on August 6,1997. And for your perusal you can view
this
web site:-
http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9708/06/guam.passenger.list

Since the demise of this our customer, I personally
have watched with keen interest to see the next of kin
but all has proved abortive as no one has come to
claim his funds of US$7.5M (SEVEN Million Five Hundred
Thoudsand United States Dollars) which has been with
my branch for a very long time. On this note, I
decided to seek for whom his name shall be used as the
Next of Kin as no one has come up to be the next of
kin. And the banking ethics here does not allow such
money to stay more than twelve years, because money will
be recalled to the bank treasury as unclaimed after this period.

I will give you 50% of the total sum. Upon the receipt
of your response, I will send you by fax or e-mail the application,
bank's fax number and the next step to take. I will not fail to bring
to your notice that this business is hitch free and that you should not
entertain any fear as all modalities for fund transfer can be finalized
within five banking days, after you apply to the bank
as a relation to the deceased.

As soon as i hear from you,I shall role out the
modalities for the actualisation of this project.
Please, do accord this transaction the confidentiality it deserves.

Yours Sincerely,
Mr.micheal brown

NB You don't have to be a blood relative of Nam Hyewon
to claim this inheritance. Pls reply so that I can
elucidate on how to proceed next.

Please reply to this email with the following details.

YOUR FULL NAME:
YOUR MARITAL STATUS:
YOUR AGE:
YOUR OFFICE ADDRESS:
YOUR RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS:
YOUR NATIONALITY:
SEX:
YOUR OCCUPATION/WHAT YOU DO FOR A LIVING:
YOUR PHONE NUMBER:

Upon the receiving of the these information, i will give the next step
to take and also give you the bank address where the money has been
deposited.

Anti-fraud resources: