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: "Mr karl Brader" <mekarl15@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 9 Jul 2008 09:44:17 +0100
Subject: FROM SUISSE BANK PROJECT DEPT.Mr Karl...


Attention:

My name is Mr. Karl Brader. I trained and work as an external auditor
for a Suisse Bank, working as part of a bigger team that covers the
entire sub-euro region. I had taken pains to find your contact through
personal endeavors.

On routine audit check last month, I discovered some investment
accounts that had been dormant for the least twelve years. All the
accounts belong to a single holder (deceased) with monies totaling 21
Million United States Dollars plus interest. Banking
regulation/legislation in Switzerland demand that I notify the fiscal
authorities after a statutory time period of twelve years when dormant
accounts of this type are called in by the monetary regulatory bodies.
The above set of facts underscores my reason of writing and making the
following proposing. My investigation of the said account reveals that
the death occured in 1994 the exact time the account was last operated.
I can confirm with certainty that the said investor died interstate and
no next of kin to his estate has been found or has come forward all
these years.I am of the settled conviction that using my insider
leverage,with I working with you can secure the funds in the account
for us instead of allowing it pass as unclaimed funds into the coffers
of the Government of Switzerland. This is especially possible as you
share same details as the said investor. This exactly is why I crave
your participation and co-operation.

I have seized all relevant documents (legal and Banking) that will
facilitate our putting you forward as the claimant and beneficiary of
the funds and ultimately transfer the money to any account nominated by
you.Of course you shall be handsomely rewarded for your part in this
transaction as I am prepared to share the deposit with you in halves of
the total funds for your efforts, less expenses.I shall however leave
out the finer details of this transaction till I receive an affirmation
of your desire to participate.

Be assured that my colleagues and I are on top of the situation all the
time and there will be no risk whatsoever if you agree to come on
board.Needless to say, UTMOST CONFIDENTIALITY is of vital importance if
we are to successfully reap the immense benefits of this transaction.
To maintain the level of security required to see this transaction come
to a successful conclusion, I have intentionally left out the details.
To affirm your willingness and cooperation to my proposal please reply
to this,

email mrkarxxxb1@gmail.com,

stating your Full Names, Date of Birth, Telephone Number, Fax Number,
Company/position held, Email address, Contact address and Postal
address.

I await your response.
Thank you,
Karl Brader

Anti-fraud resources: