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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: David Evans <freatfrat@gretser.com>
Reply-To: <ratnavnaaaatbv@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Mon, 30 May 2011 03:01:35 +0100
Subject: Re:Very Urgent Information !

Good day,

Firstly, I apologize for sending you this sensitive information via e-mail Instead of a Certified mail/Post-mail,this is due to the urgency and importance of the information so I humbly crave your indulgence to read this e-mail with all seriousness of purpose devoid of any doubt in your mind because this project is based on Trust, Confidentiality and Sincerity of purpose in order to have an Acceptable meeting of the minds.
Although we never met before, but I have every reason to believe that you are a highly respected personality, considering the fact that I got your E- mail address through the Internet,my online Network,while searching for a reliable and reputable person to handle this transaction.
I am a senior manager accounts/audit in a Commercial BANK here in Africa.I am Writing you today following an opportunity in my office that will be of Immense benefit to both of us.

In my department,we discovered an abandoned sum of 12.5 million Dollars(Twelve million,five hundred Thousand Dollars Only) in an account that belongs to one of our Foreign customers(Mr.Paul Louis Halley) who Unfortunately lost his in an air-crash.

Since we got information about his death, we have been expecting His next of kin or relatives to come over and claim his money because we cannot release it unless somebody applies for it as Next of kin or relation to the Deceased as indicated in our banking rules and guidelines.
Unfortunately I discovered that his supposed next of kin being his Only daughter died after the severe shock of his father's death.
It is therefore upon this discovery that I and my colleague(late Mr.Paul Louis Halley's account manager) decided to make business with you and release the money to you as the next of kin or beneficiary of the funds for safe-keeping and subsequent disbursement since nobody is Coming for it and we don't want this money to go back into Government treasury as unclaimed bill.
The banking law and guidelines here stipulates that if the fund is unclaimed after seven years,the money will be transferred into Banking treasury as unclaimed funds.

For your assistance and co-operation,We agreed that 40% of this money would be given to you as our Foreign partner,while the remaining 60% will be kept for me and my colleague.

What I introduced to you might be a smack of an unethical practice but this is a once in a lifetime opportunity that is capable of making things better for us and moreover.
Please note that all the necessary arrangement for the smooth release of these funds to you will been finalized as soon as you indicate your role in this transaction. We will discuss much in details when I receive your response.

Every information that will back you up as the next of kin to my late client shall be given to you as soon as I hear from you.
The following information will be required from you in your reply;

1.} your full name,
2.} Your residential/contact address,
3.} Your phone/fax number,
4.} Your Occupation and;
5.} Your Age.

For purpose of security and the confidentiality of this transaction you can reply this mail to this my private e-mail address below; "ddevans234@live.com"

I look forward to receive your positive response soonest.

Thanks and good luck to us.

Best regards,
Mr. David Evans.

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