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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: "UNITED BANK WEST VIRGINIA" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <andrewdowie44@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 28 Jun 2010 02:50:03 +0530
Subject: FROM THE DESK OF ANDREW DOWIE

FROM THE DESK OF ANDREW DOWIE
SENIOR STAFF IN THE FILE DEPARTMENT
UNITED BANK WEST VIRGINIA
UNITED KINGDOM.

COMPLIMENT OF THE SEASON


I am ACCOUNTANT ANDREW DOWIE, an account officer to a nationality of your country, who used to work here in LONDON. On the 21st of April 2009, my client was involved in a car accident.


Two occupants of the vehicle including the driver unfortunately lost there lives. Since then I have made several enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to contact you to locate any member of his family.


I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the fund valued at BRITISH POUNDS STERLING FIFTEEN MILLION, £15.000,000.00 left behind by our customer before it gets CONFISCATED or declared unserviceable by the Bank where this amount is deposited. Bank has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account CONFISCATED within the next five official working days.


For the fact that I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over one year now, I seek the consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased, since you are from the same country with our customer, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you then we share the money


Therefore, on receipt of your positive response, we shall then discuss in details for transfer of the £15.000,000.00 into your account.


I have all necessary information and legal documents needed to back you up for claim. All I require from you is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect us from any breach of the law. Remember I am a Banker, get in touch with me through e-mail: andrewdowie44@hotmail.com
tell:{+447010029705}

Best regards

ACCOUNTANT ANDREW DOWIE
UNITED BANK WEST VIRGINIA LONDON UK

Anti-fraud resources: