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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: Bill Walsh <w.bill6@msn.com>
Reply-To: <bill_walsh300@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Sun, 3 Aug 2008 15:54:51 +0000
Subject: Trust & Confidential....



Dear Friend, Private and Confidential I am contacting you in regards to a business transfer of a huge sum of money from a deceased customer's account, a German property magnate Andreas Schranner, 64, his wife Maria, 62, all perished in the jet crashed On the 25th of July 2000, deceased, his wife and their two Children died in the Air France concord plane crash bound for New York in their plan for a world cruise, see the : Website:http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm Although I know that a transaction of this magnitude might make anyone apprehensive, I would like to assure you that i am sending you this mail with the best of intentions.PROPOSAL; Since then i have been trying to get this funds out of the bank, the sum of 13,450,000.00 GBP (Thirteen Million, Four Hundred and fifty Thousand Pounds) in an account that belongs to our foreign customers who died along with his entire family in the above accident stated above. Since his death, none of his next-of-kin or relations has come forward to lay claims to this money as the heir. I cannot release the fund from his account unless someone applies for claim as the next-of-kin to the deceased as indicated in deposited banking guidelines where this money has been deposited. 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 us for the funds 13,450,000,00GBP) to be released in your favor as the beneficiary's next of kin. It may interest you to know that I have secured from the probate court, an order of mandamus to locate any of the deceased beneficiaries. Please acknowledge receipt of this message in acceptance of our mutual business endeavor by furnishing me with the following; 1. Your Full Names and Address.2. Direct Telephone and Fax numbers. If this proposal is acceptable by you, do not take undue advantage of the trust we have bestowed in you. I WANT TO TRANSFER THIS MONEY INTO A SAFE FOREIGN ACCOUNT ABROAD BUT I DON'T KNOW ANY FOREIGNER WHOM I CAN TRUST, I KNOW THAT THIS MESSAGE WILL COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE AS WE DON'T KNOW OURSELVES BEFORE, BUT BE SURE THAT IT IS REAL AND A GENUINE BUSINESS. I CONTACT YOU BELIEVING THAT YOU WILL NOT LET ME DOWN ONCE THE FUND GOES INTO YOUR ACCOUNT. I AWAIT YOUR URGENT RESPONSE. Regards,Mr. Bill Walsh

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