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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: Mrs Grace Adams <graces2@btopenworld.com>
Reply-To: Mrs Grace Adams <gracesss@live.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 18 May 2010 11:56:53 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Reply.


DEAR SIR/MADAM,


HOW ARE YOU TODAY? THIS IS STRICTLY A PRIVATE BUSINESS PROPOSAL I AM MRS GRACE ADAMS THE MANAGER, BILLS AND EXCHANGE AT THE FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT OF THE STANDARD CHARTERED BANK PLC. I AM WRITING THIS LETTER TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND COOPERATION TO CARRY OUT THIS BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY IN MY DEPARTMENT WE DISCOVERED AN ABANDONED SUM OF $6000000.00(SIX MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY) IN AN ACCOUNT THAT BELONGS TO ONE OF OUR

FOREIGN CUSTOMER WHO DIED ALONG WITH HER ENTIRE FAMILY A HUSBAND AND TWO CHILDREN IN NOVEMBER 2005 IN A PLANE CRASH.

SINCE WE HEARD OF HER DEATH, WE HAVE BEEN EXPECTING HER NEXT-OF -KIN TO COME OVER AND PUT CLAIMS FOR HER MONEY AS THE HEIR,BECAUSE WE CANNOT RELEASE THE FUND FROM HER ACCOUNT UNLESS SOMEONE APPLIES FOR CLAIM AS THE NEXT-OF-KIN TO THE DECEASED AS INDICATED IN OUR BANKING GUIDE LINES. UNFORTUNATELY ,NEITHER THEIR FAMILY MEMBER NOR DISTANT RELATIVE HAS EVER APPEARED TO CLAIM THE SAID FUND,I HAVE DECIDED TO RELEASE THE TOTAL AMOUNT INTO YOUR ACCOUNT AS HER NEXT OF KIN OF THE FUND SINCE NO ONE HAS COME FOR IT OR DISCOVERED SHE MAINTAINED ACCOUNT WITH OUR BANK OTHER WISE THE FUND WILL BE RETURNED TO THE BANK TREASURY AS A CLAIMED FUND.

WE HAVE AGREED THAT OUR RATIO OF SHARING WILL BE AS STATED THUS;30 % FOR YOU AS FOREIGN PARTNER,60 % FOR US THE OFFICIALS IN MY DEPARTMENT AND10% FOR THE SETTLEMENT OF ALL LOCAL AND FOREIGN EXPENSES INCURRED BY US AND YOU DURING THE COURSE OF THIS BUSINESS. UPON THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THIS TRANSFER, I AND ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES WILL COME TO YOUR COUNTRY AND MIND OUR SHARE. IT IS FROM OUR 60 % WE INTEND TO IMPORT AGRICULTURAL MACHINES INTO MY COUNTRY AS A WAY OF RECYCLING THE FUND. TO COMMENCE THIS TRANSACTION, WE REQUIRE YOU TO IMMEDIATELY INDICATE YOUR INTEREST IN YOUR REPLY AND ALSO STATE YOUR PRIVATE CONTACT TELEPHONE UMBER ,FAX NUMBER FULL NAME AND ADDRESS TO ENABLE US FILE LETTER OF CLAIM TO THE APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENTS FOR NECESSARY APPROVALS BEFORE THE TRANSFER CAN BE MADE.NOTE ALSO,THIS TRANSACTION MUST BE KEPT STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL BECAUSE OF ITS NATURE.I LOOK FORWARD TO RECEIVING

YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE.REPLY ME TO THIS EMAIL ADDRESS: gracesss@live.co.uk

THANKS,
MRS GRACE ADAMS.

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