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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: Didier Laurent <didierlaurent1@cantv.net>
Date: Mon, 9 Aug 2010 15:31:39 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: HELLO FRIEND




Dear friend,
My name is Mr Didier Laurent a Banker with one of the leading banks here in Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire West Africa; I am the personal accounts manager to Late Mr.Avis Whitaker, who used to be a contractor with an oil servicing company based here in Cote Ivoire. My client, his wife, and their three children were involved in the ill fated Kenya Airways crash in the coasts of Abidjan on 30th January 2000 in which all passengers on board died. Since then I have made several inquiries to locate any of my clients extended relatives but has been unsuccessful. I decided to trace a foreigner over the internet to see if I could locate any any foreigner to apply as his relation hence I contacted you, of particular interest is this large deposit with our bank here, where the deceased has an account valued at about ($8.5m US dollars) Eight million five hundred thousand USD.

They have issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or the bank will declare the account unserviceable and thereby send the funds to the government treasury. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over last 10 years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you are a foreigner as he is a foreigner, so that the proceeds of this account valued can be paid to you and then you and I will share the money.

All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us seeing this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under all legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. If you can handle this with me please I need your response with your contact such as phone and fax number for more discussions below is my private mobile line where I can be reached.
Thank you for your anticipated cooperation.
Best Regards
Mr Didier Laurent.



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