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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: "Sec co" <webline2@gala.net>
Date: Wed, 9 Jul 2008 12:29:39 +0100
Subject: PRIVATE AND URGENT.


PRIVATE AND URGENT.
Mr. Micheal Adamz.
Carre 777 Zogbo Mairre
Cotonou-Benin Republic.

Good day,

I am contacting you because of a business concerning some amount of money
from a deceased deposit in the Security and Finance company where I work.I
am the Director of the company and I discovered an abandoned deposit in my
company owned by one of our foreign customers who died along with his entire
family as a result of an automobile crash. He actually deposited this funds
amounting to US$12,000,000.00 (Twelve million united states dollars), for
safe keeping in my company here in Benin Republic. Company file records
shows that the funds was actually for a project our late customer wanted to
start in the near future (a multi million Dollar steel plant in Florida,
USA), before his sudden and untimely death. As such since his death none of
his relations or next-of-kin has come forward to lay claims for this
property as the heir, this is the basically the reason why I have contacted
you. My company cannot release the property unless someone applies for claim
as the next-of-kin to the deceased as indicated in our operating guidelines.


Upon this discovery, I now seek your permission to have you stand as a next
of kin to the deceased as all documentations will be carefully worked out by
me for the funds to be released in your favour as the beneficiary's next of
kin. It may interest you to know that I have secured from the probate an
order of madamus to locate any of deceased beneficiaries. Please acknowledge
receipt of this message in acceptance of our mutual business endeavour by
furnishing me with the following;

1. Beneficiary full name and address
2. Direct Telephone and fax numbers
3. Occupation and position
4. Nationality and Date of birth
5. Marital status
6. Gender/sex

These requirements will enable me file letter of claim to the appropriate
departments for necessary approvals in your favour before you can personally
appear for the claim. I shall be compensating you with 30% of the total
money while 10% will be for any expenses incurred
the rest will be mine on final conclusion of this project. Please note that
your share stays while the rest shall be for me for investment purposes.

If this proposal is acceptable by you, take advantage of the trust I have
bestowed in you, I await your urgent mail. Please reply to my private and
confidential email: w3bline@myway.com

Best Regards,
Mr.Micheal Adamz.

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