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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: David Brinsford <davidbrinssford7@msn.com>
Reply-To: <davidbrinssford1@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 21 Sep 2008 17:23:12 +0000
Subject: David



Good Day,
I will first introduce myself as Mr. Brinsford, a staff in the Accounts Management Section of a well-known bank, here in Scotland , UK .
One of our accounts, with holding balance of £15,000,000 (Fifteen Million Pounds Sterling) has been dormant and last operated four years ago. From my investigations and confirmation, the owner of the said account, a foreigner who died on the 7th of January 2004 in a car accident that occurred in Birmingham here in UK .
Since then, nobody has done anything as regards the claiming of this money, as he has no family member that has any knowledge as to the existence of either the account or the funds; and also Information from the National Immigration also states that my late customer client has the same last name with you and he was single on entry into the UK.
I have confidently discussed this issue with the Attorney to my late customer client and we have agreed to work with you due to the fact that you have the same surname with him it's 100% SURE that your claims will be approved by the finance firm where the said funds were lodged. We therefore propose to do business with you, standing in as the next of kin of these funds from the deceased and funds released to you after due processes have been followed.
This transaction is totally free of risk and troubles as the fund is legitimate and does not originate from drug, money laundry, terrorism or any other illegal act.
On your interest, let me hear from you.
Warm Regards,
David Brinsford.
DISCLAIMER:
This message contains confidential information and is intended only for specified addressee. If you are not the named addressee you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail. The sender therefore does not accept liability for any errors or omissions in the contents of this message, which arise as a result of e-mail transmission. Please note that we reserve the right to monitor and read any emails sent and received under the telecommunications (Lawful Business Practice) (Interception of Communications) Regulations 2002.

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