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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: "Dr.Wenger" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <dwenger9909@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 02:04:45 -0000
Subject: Re: Waiting for your response!

Hello

With due respect to your person and with much sincerity of purpose
I make this contact with you as I believe that you can be of great assistance to me,
I am a Group finance director of Falcon Private Bank.
Presently we are conducting a standard process investigation
on behalf of "Falcon Group", the International Banking conglomerate.
This investigation involves a client who shares the same surname
with you and also the circumstances surrounding investments made by this client at
"Falcon Group", the Private Banking arm of Falcon Private Bank.
The client died in testate and nominated no successor in title over the investments made with the bank.

I would respectfully request that you keep the contents of this email private,
and respect the integrity of the information you come by as a result of this mail.
I contact you independently of our investigation and no one is informed of this communication.
I am prepared to place you in a position to instruct my bank to release the deposit to you,
as the closest surviving relation. I will simply nominate you as the next of kin
and have them release the fund to you without any hitch from the authority.
I would have done this myself but that would have drawn a straight line to me
and my involvement in claiming the deposit because I still work with the bank.
Ironically’ you stand a better chance to receive the fund legally, being a foreigner.
I ask that if you find no interest in this project, please delete this email.
and forget I ever contacted you. Do not destroy my career because you do not approve of my proposal.

I am a family man and this is an opportunity to provide them with new opportunities.
The dynamics of my industry dictates that I make this move.
If you agree to be my partner in this venture your reward will be 50% of the total sum,
I have evaluated the risks and the only risk I have here is from you refusing to work with me.
If you give me a positive signal, I will initiate this process towards a swift conclusion,
and you shall receive the money in your nominated bank account legally within six/seven business days.
I’m sending you this email not without a measure of fear but I know within me,
that nothing ventured is nothing gained and that success and riches
never come easy on a platter of gold. This is one truth I have learned from my private banking clients.
Do not betray my confidence. If we can be of one accord,
we should plan a meeting soon.


Kind regards,
Dr. Christian Wenger

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