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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: William Adams <adams.willems@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: william_adams114@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 26 Mar 2010 09:50:44 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: PARTNERSHIP BUSINESS


PARTNERSHIP BUSINESS My name is Mr.William Adams I work in one of the prime banks in Cote d'Ivoire.I am contacting you for as assistance in regards to a business transfer of a large sum of money from a dormant account Though I know that a transaction of this magnitude will make any one apprehensive and worried, but I am assuring you that all will be well at the end of the day.I am the personal accounts manager to one of our late Foreign customers who used to run an oil servicing company here in Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire). He was involved in the ill fated Kenya Airways crash in the coasts of Abidjan in January 2000 in which all passengers on board died. Of particular interest is this huge deposit with our bank made by the deceased valued at about Sixteen million,US dollars ($16million USdollars) Since then I have made several inquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives but has been unsuccessful. After several
unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his last name over the internet to see if I could locate any member of his family, hence I contacted you. Recently a probate order has been issued and as such if nobody comes for the claim of the deposit by the first quarter of this year,the account will be declared unserviceable and the funds called tothe government treasury. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating any of the relatives for over last 10 years now, I will seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you have the same last name so that the proceeds of this account be released and transferred into your account, then you and I will share the money. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us to see this deal through. I guarantee that this will be uted under all legitimate arrangement that will protect you  from any breach of the law. Please acknowledge receipt of this email in acceptance of our mutual
business endeavour by furnishing me with the following information as listed below which will enable me work on the account file so you can now apply for the release of the funds as the next of kin. You can contact me through this address. 1.Your full name2. Postal address3. Date of birth4. Telephone and fax numbersAny other details will follow at  the receipt of your response. Thanking you for your anticipated cooperation. William Adams

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