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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: "Mr. Jonathan J. Robinson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <johnrobinson@Safe-mail.net>
Date: Sun, 2 May 2010 10:55:33 -1200
Subject: Attn: Sir/Madam

Nat West Bank plc
P.O Box 204 1 Hatton Garden
London
EC1N 8AA
TEL: +4470 2407 7832
TEL: +4470 2402 8604


Attn: Sir/Madam


I got your contact through the internet and I decided to reach you because
presently I am in desperate need of a trust worthy foreigner for this
proposal. I am Jonathan J. Robinson Branch Manager, Nat West Bank plc. In
January 2005, one of my customer who is a Consultant/General contractor here
in United Kingdom, made a numbered time Fixed) Deposit, valued at (Eleven
Million, Five 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. After a month, we sent a reminder and finally we discovered
from his contract employers that he is no longer on earth. The said fund is
still in my Bank and the interest is being rolled over with the principal
sum at the end of each year.


In accordance with the British banking and Financial Law, at the expiration
of some years, money will be revert to the ownership of the British
Government if nobody come for the claim. Consequently, I shall present you
as the next of kin, hence you are a foreigner it will be easy for us to
claim the money and the money will be share in the ratio of 60% for me, 40%
for you.


There is no risk involved as I will use my position as the Branch Bank
Manager to secure approvals and guarantee the successful execution of this
transaction within 7-working days. If this proposal interests you, please
include your private telephone number for voice contact.

Thanks,
Best regards.
Mr. Jonathan J. Robinson

Anti-fraud resources: