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: Philip Reid <philipreid_60@live.com>
Date: Wed, 14 Apr 2010 06:07:05 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Your urgent assistance is needed


Dear Friend,
 
My name is Philip Reid from Harlesden , North West London , here in England . I work for NatWest Bank London . I am writing following an opportunity in my office that will be of an immense benefit to both of us.
 
In my department, being the Manager (Greater London Regional Office), I discovered an abandoned sum of $12.5million USA Dollars (Twelve Million Five Hundred Thousand USA Dollars) in an account that belongs to one of our Late foreign customers Mr.Thompson Morrison.
 
He unfortunately lost his life in a plane crash, including his wife and only daughter. The choice of contacting you is aroused from the geographical nature of where you live, particularly due to the sensitivity of the transaction and the confidentiality herein. Now our bank has been waiting for any of the relatives to come-up for the claim but nobody has done that.
 
I personally have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for the past years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin / Will Beneficiary to the deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued at 12.5Million Dollars can be paid to you.
 
This will be disbursed or shared in these percentages, 60% to me and 40% to you. I have secured all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up this claim we are making. All I need is to fill in your names to the documents and legalize it in the court here to prove you as the legitimate beneficiary.
 
While we have made arrangements with Diplomatic Envoy in service to move the money through diplomatic process to your country with all the necessary papers to enhance depositing the money in to a bank in your country. All I require now is your honest Co-operation, Confidentiality and Trust to enable us sees this transaction through.
 
I guarantee you that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Please, provide me the following: as we have 5 days to run it through.
 
This is very very URGENT PLEASE.
 
1. Your Full Name
2. Your Mobile Telephone Number
3. Your Contact Address
4. Occupation/Position
 
Please, your urgent response will be highly anticipated and appreciated.
 
Best regards,
 
Philip Reid 

 

Anti-fraud resources: