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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: Victor Mavis <victomavis101@eircom.net>
Reply-To: Victor Mavis <victormvis@globo.com>
Date: Sat, 11 Sep 2010 07:29:05 +0100 (IST)
Subject: Pls Confirm



Dear Friend,

I got your contact through the internet.
I decided to reach you because presently
i am in desperate need of a trust worthy
foreign person for this proposal.

I am Victor Mavis, Head of Finance
with Allied Irish Bank London.
In January 2007, a customer (foreigner)
who was a consultant, made a numbered
time Fixed Deposit, valued at U$4,600,000.00
Four Million, Six hundred Thousand
United States Dollars),for twelve (12)
calendar months in my Bank Branch.

Upon maturity, we sent a routine
notification to his forwarding
address but got no reply.
we sent a reminder and we where
informed by his contract
employers that he is deceased.
It is possible that we may be
tempted to make fortune about
this situations when we cannot
help it. The said fund is still
in my Bank Branch. At the expiration
of (4) four years, the money will
revert to the Government if none
of his relative come for the claim.

Hence you are a foreigner,
I shall present you as the
next of kin with my position
in the bank to claim the said
fund and the fund will be share
in the ratio of 60% - 40%.
I assured you there is no
risk involved as i will use
my position to bear and also
secure approvals and Guarantee
the successful execution of this
transaction within 7-working days.

If the above interests you, get back to me
and I will send to you the
detailed Information on how this
business would be successfully
transacted. Please include your
private phone number for voice contact.

I Look forward to your urgent reply.

Victor Mavis

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