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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: "David Forbes" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <davforbes@aol.com>
Date: Thu, 8 Apr 2010 14:14:24 +0100
Subject: Re: Partner

Dear Partner,


I hope this mail meets you in good time. However strange or surprising this contact might seem to you as we
have not meet personally or had any dealings in the past, I humbly ask that you take due consideration of
its importance and immense benefit. Presently, we are conducting a standard process investigation on
behalf of Falcon Private Bank Ltd This investigation involves a client and the circumstances surrounding investments made by this client at the bank. I would respectfully request that you keep the contents of this mail private and respect the integrity of the information you come by as a result of this mail.


I contacted you independently of my private investigation and no one is informed of this communication.
You share similar surname with the deceased customer, as such I am prepared to place you in a position to instruct
my bank to release the deposit to you as the closest surviving relation. That is, I will simply nominate you
as the next of kin and have them release the deposit to you as the beneficiary. I would have gone ahead
and transfer the funds secretly to my private offshore account, but that would have drawn a straight line to
me and my involvement in claiming the deposit. On the other hand, you as a foreigner stand a better chance
to easily surpass, as the beneficiary to the fund.

This transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the
law. If you are ready to work with me, I assure you that I could have the deposit released to you within the
next few days. Upon receipt of the deposit, we shall share the proceeds in halves. There is a reward for
this project and it is a task well worth undertaking. If we can be of one accord base on mutual consent,
I shall initiate this process towards a swift conclusion.

Thank you,

David J. Forbes.

Anti-fraud resources: