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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: Tinnawat Mahat <tinnawatxtra@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 9 Jan 2011 18:07:03 +0800
Subject: PLEASE READ AND GET BACK TO ME

Good day,

I am Mr. Tinnawat Mahat a operational supervisor in Investment section
and also five times Head of Treasury in Bank of Ayudhya, Thailand. I have a
secured business suggestion for you, a business I am 100% in control of in
our bank.
Before the US and Iraqi war our client General Mohammed Mustapha who was
with the Iraqi forces and also business man Made a numbered fixed deposit
for 18 calendar months, with a Value of Nineteen millions Five Hundred
Thousand United State Dollars only in my branch. Several Notice was sent to
him, from my table here to the address he gave to me.

Again after the war another notification was sent and still no response came
from him. We later find out that the general and his family had been killed
during the War in bomb blast that hit their home. After further
investigation it was also discovered that General Mohammed Mustapha did not
declare any next of kin in His official papers including the paper work of
his bank Deposit. And he also confided in me the last time he was at my
office that no one except me knew of his Deposit in my bank. So, Nineteen
millions Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars is still lying in my
bank and No one will ever come forward to claim it. What bothers me Most is
that according to the to the laws of my country at the expiration 5 years
the funds will Revert to the ownership of the Thailand Government if Nobody
applies to claim the funds.

Against this backdrop, my suggestion to you is that I will like you as a
foreigner to stand as the next of kin to General Mohammed Mustapha So that
you will be able to receive his funds. Please endeavor to observe utmost
discretion in all Matters concerning this issue. Once the funds have been
transferred to your nominated bank account we shall share in the ratio of
60% for me, 40% for you. If you are interested send your response to this
email address:

Kind Regards
Mr. Tinnawat Mahat
tinnawatxtra@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources: