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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: "DON CARLOS PEREZ." <doncarlosperez@aim.com>
Date: Sun, 27 Dec 2009 20:42:38 +0100
Subject: I NEED YOUR REPLY.

Dear Friend,
My name is Carlos Perez. I work with the Santander bank in
Spain
(www.bancosantander.es) as a group head, treasury
Department. In the discharge
Of my duty, I
stumbled on this domiciliary account
That has remained
Dormant for three good years now with a total sum of
Twelve Million
United State Dollars in it [$12 Million USD].
On my personal investigation, I discovered that the
Account holder died
In car crash accident with his entire member family
Who should be the
Next of kin. I am writing you so that we can work
Together to remit this
Amount of money into your own private and personal
Account. I will
Present you to my bank as the beneficiary/next of kin
To the deceased;
Hence the depositor is a foreigner and has no trace to
Be found after
Several attempts were made.
It is simple work, which will take a short while to
Process, Aside this,
Bank management will confiscate this amount as unclear
Effect and send
It back to the Spanish Deposit Insurance
Cooperation Account.
If I hear from you, I will detail you more about the
Money and the
Operational method we can use to affect the remittance
Of the money
directly into your desired/located bank account.
I want you to know that this business is for our
Mutual benefits I have
therefore agreed to give you 40% of the total amount
While 55% comes to
Me, set aside 5% for expenses that may occur during
the transaction
Process.
I will also use my upper position to make sure that
All the process
Goes successfully without any hitch.
I will await your urgent response.
Best Regards, (doncarlosperez@aim.com)
Carlos Perez.
[Chief Head Treasury Department Banco Santander , Madrid
Office].

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