joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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: "Mr. Kelvin Howard" <gettonit20102@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: kelvinhoward68@latinmail.com
Date: Mon, 2 Aug 2010 08:46:42 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: KINDLY RESPOND TO THIS MESSAGE!!!


KINDLY RESPOND TO THIS MESSAGE!!!
 
Dear Sir,
 
My name is Mr. Kelvin Howard, I trained and currently work as an external
auditor for the National Irish bank Dublin Ireland as part of a large team that
covers the entire Irish region. I have taken my time to contact you through
personal endeavours.
 
During a routine audit check months ago, I discovered a fixed deposit accounts
that have been dormant for the last eight (8) years. The account belongs to a
single holder with total amount slightly above $17.1 Million United States Dollars.
Banking regulation/legislation in Ireland demand that I notify the Office of
Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) after a statutory time period of
nine years when dormant accounts of this type are discovered. The above set of
facts underscores my reason of writing to you and making the following proposal.
 
My investigations of the said account reveals that the investor died in 1999 - the
exact time the account was last operated. I can confirm with certainty that the
said investor died INTESTATE and named no next–of–kin to his estate. I am of
the settled conviction that using my experience and working with you, we can
state you as the next-of-kin (beneficiary) of the Fixed Deposit and claim it instead
of allowing it pass on as unclaimed fund into the coffers of the Irish Government.
 
I have all relevant documents (Legal and Banking) that will facilitate my putting
you forward as the claimant/beneficiary of the funds and ultimately transfer the
money to an account nominated by you. If necessary, we can easily open a new
account on you name for this purpose. If you accept to cooperate in this, we will
agree unquestionably on adequate compensation for you after we successfully get
the money transferred to you.
 
I will tell you finer details of this transaction when I receive confirmation of your
desire to participate.  Be assured that I am completely committed to the
situation. There will be no risk involved whatsoever if you agree to co-operate but
we need to keep the plan totally PRIVATE. I fully guarantee that the transaction
will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect both you and me
from any breach of law.
 
Please reply to me once you receive this message so that I give you full details.
Once more I only need your acceptance because of the similarity of names to
legitimise this. Please reply using fax, or email, as above indicating your
telephone number and I will call you back.
 
Your prompt response will be highly appreciated.
 
Kind Regards,
 
Mr. Kelvin Howard




Anti-fraud resources: