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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: "LUIS R" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <officefilebox@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2011 13:39:05 +0100
Subject: Urgent business notificati?on for your attention.

Hello,

Compliment of the day, I know that this letter must come to you as a big surprise, but I believe it is only a day that people met and become great friends and business partners. I am Barrister LUIS, an expert at co-operate and legal claims. I got your mail through my private search and out of desperation I decided to reach you through this medium.
I am contacting you in respect of a deceased client of mine ,Mr, Kurt Kahle, a German who owned private business, schools and also a property magnate who died in Concord AF4590 crash since in the year 2000 along side with his entire family ( his 37-year-old wife and son Michael).

Please log on here to see for your self,

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm

Before his death, my client deposited (5.700 000 €) Five Million Seven Hundred Thousand Euros in a bank here in Spain, I have recently been mandated by the Institution demanding me to present the next of kin/beneficiary of the said funds. Failure to respond to this ultimatum would legally allow the financial institute to report this fund to the European Central Bank (ECB) as unclaimed funds.

I have come to the resolution of investing this money with you in your country.
The need to move out this money arose when the European Community Leaders generally agreed that some of the money held in dormant accounts would be used to fund youth and community projects, you can confirm this in the website below.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4017381.stm

I and my colleagues have succeeded in reuniting almost all the necessary requirements concerning the release of this funds and it is my intention to present this opportunity to you as the beneficiary. Please note that I'm legally equipped with all the necessary information/documentations concerning this fund. Upon your decision to accept the proposal.

I would process the release of this fund to your possession; you would be entitled to 30% of the said funds and 70% for me. For security reasons, I have decided not to add more information into this letter, but immediately you get in touch with me with your contact details, I would be able to inform you on how this could be concluded.

In conclusion, it is my concern to demand your ultimate honesty, co-operation and confidentiality to enable us conclude this transaction. I GUARANTEE that this process would be executed under a legitimate arrangement that would legally protect you from any breech of Law.

Please get in touch with me immediately you acknowledge the good receipt of this message, But if your not interested do not reply the mail and delete the original copy from your system.

Anticipating your prompt response.

Regards,

Secretary
Snr, Silvia Luciana Gonzalez.

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