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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: "MELISSA HOLDENTE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bright.albert@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 24 Jun 2010 05:23:01 -0700
Subject: REQUESTING YOUR URGENT ATTENTION

Dear Sir/Madam,
 
REQUESTING YOUR URGENT ATTENTION
 
We have been notified in our bank that some person by the name of Mr. Martin .G. Thompson is trying by all means to manipulate our bank to transfer your $17million (Seventeen million dollars) into his personal account information, acting under the guise of your direction.
 
It would interest you that this action can only be implemented if and only if you guarantee the Standard Chartered Bank, London that you are aware of this development and accordingly give the approval for the funds to be transferred.
 
It would also interest you to know that based on the numerous internet scam/fraud, we decided to undertake the research and the responsibility of notifying our customers. This is informed by our desire to forestall/avoid any legal action from our customers should there be any mistake from our end. Consequently, we request that you reconfirmed the following data to avoid any error:
(1) FULL NAMES
(2) PRESENT LOCATION
(3) OCCUPATION
(4) AGE
(5) MARITAL STATUS
(6) OFFICE ADDRES IF ANY
(7) VALID PHONE.FAX NUMBER FOR EASY COMMUNICATION AND A COPY OF ANYTHING THAT CAN BE USED TO ADENTIFY YOU.
 
To the International Remittance Officer:
 
Name: Jerry Anton
Email: jerryanton@yahoo.co.uk
 
Thank you and please follow due directions so that the transfer of your funds is effected without any form of mis-appropriation/mis-representation.
 
Thank you
Melissa Holdente
For Mgt.
Standard Chartered Bank,
London.
 
 
 
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE:
The information contained in this e-mail, including any attachment(s), is confidential information that may be privileged and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, or if you received this message in error, then any direct or indirect disclosure, distribution or copying of this message is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please delete this message; and destroy all copies, including attachments. Thank you.
 

Anti-fraud resources: