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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: Martin Wharton <officefiles@verizon.net>
Reply-To: martinwharton@inMail24.com
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 07:25:44 -0800 (PST)
Subject: From Martin Wharton


>From Martin Wharton
Nat West Bank Plc
5 Lakeside Sanctuary,
lanarmon-Yn-Ial, Nr.Mold,
Flintshire, North Wales CH7 4QX
United Kingdom

Good  day ,
You may be surprised to receive this letter from me, but it is a
matter that I am convinced we can solve,if we work together in
harmony.However, I seek for your absolute confidence as I introduce
myself to you.My name is Martin Wharton, Assistant Auditor,Nat West
Bank Plc.In the discharge of my duty as the Assistant Auditor, I stumbled on
this domiciliary account that has remained dormant for three years now
with Ten million six hundred thousand Great British Pounds(10.6mGBP)
in it.
I contacted my directors and we sent out staff for enquiries about
this fund and discovered that the account holder died in an accident.
I am writing you so that we can work together to remit the money to
you as the next of kin because this money belongs to a foreigner and
has to be claimed by a foreigner. I guarantee this transaction under a
legitimate arrangements that will not bridge the law by both parties.
I have options to offer you, first you can choose to have certain
percentage of the money for your assistance, or you can go into
partnership for a proper profitable investment of the money. Which
ever option do you choose?feel free to notify me.If for some reasons
you do not prefer a partnership, I am willing to give you 25% of the
money, 15% for every expenses that will be incured during the
transaction of this fund,and 60% will be for me and my partners as the
originator of the business.
Note, On the event that you cannot assist me to do the business, I beg
you to still keep my contact and existence of this fund a secret. I
also require you make available to me your confidential telephone and
fax numbers to enable me communicate with you easily.It is simple
process which will take a short while to process.
To indicate your interest to work with us,I will give you more
detailed informations regarding on what to do and how to do it for us
to achieve good success about the transaction as soon as I hear fro you.
Best Regards,
Martin Wharton.
 

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