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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.

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

Fraud email example:

From: THOMAS KALIMA <thomas.kalima5@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: thomaskalima2@cantv.net
Date: Mon, 14 Jun 2010 14:52:06 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Urgent Request


Good day,
I know this letter may have come to you as a surprise due to the fact that we never met before but however i have made up my mind to this transaction with you. My name  is Mr thomas kalima, a Banker with one of the leading banks here in Abidjan Cote d Ivoire West Africa; I am the personal accounts manager to Dr George Brumley,Atlanta physician My client, his wife, and there children were involved in the ill fated Kenya Airways crash in Junly 2003 in which all passengers on board died. Since then I have made several inquiries to locate any of my clients extended relatives but has been unsuccessful. 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.Of particular interest is this large deposit with our bank here, where the deceased has an account valued at about ($7 million US dollars) They have issued me a notice to
http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/07/20/kenya.crash/index.html 
 provide the next of kin or the bank will declare the account unserviceable And thereby send the funds to the government treasury. Since I have beenunsuccessful in locating the relatives for over last 5 years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased , so that the proceeds of this account valued can be paid to you and then you and I can share the money.All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us seeing this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under all legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. If you can handle this with me, reach me by sending the following informations now.

1. Your Name2. Postal Address3. Date of Birth4. Telephone and fax numbers5. Profession with position Thanking you for your anticipated cooperation.Sincerely yoursThomas kalima

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