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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: Edward Utom <edward.utom1@att.net>
Reply-To: pkwesi1@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Fri, 4 Mar 2011 20:40:17 -0800 (PST)
Subject: I will wait for your feedback



Greetings ,

I am Edward Utom,a Malaysia Citizen, I have interest of investing in your country as well as seek your services in a a financial transaction that will benefit both of us. As a manager in my bank, it my duty to send financial reports to my head office in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur.

On the course of the last year 2010 end of the of the year report, I discovered that my branch in which I am the manager made excess Profit of ($17,500.000.00USD), I have already submitted an approved Financial report for the year 2010 to my Head office and the entire Bank will never know of this excess. I have since then PLACED this fund on a SUSPENCE ACCOUNT without a beneficiary.

As an officer of the bank, I cannot be directly connected to this money thus I am compelled to request for your assistance to receive this money into your bank account. At the conclusion of this transaction,you will be given 50% of the total amount and 50% will be for me.

I do need to assure you that there is practically no risk involved in this. It going to be a bank-to-bank transfer.

All I need from you is to stand as the original depositor of this fund.
Best Regards,
Edward Utom

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