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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: "CAL BANK" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <kwasitumi2011@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 19 Jun 2011 18:09:26 -0000
Subject: PROPOSAL FROM KWASI TUMI

Dear Friend,

I am Mr.Kwasi Tumi staff of CAL Bank, Accra Ghana.I am contacting you
in respect to a financial portfolio of Five Million United States Dollars
(US $5 Million) deposited in a security firm whose depositor died in
mid 2007.As the Head, Foreign (International) Operations Unit, the
investigating team has for the past years been fruitless to locate
my late client.

If you are familiar with private banking affairs, those who patronize
our services usually prefer anonymity and also some levels of detachment
from conventional processes. In his bio-data form, he listed no next of
kin. If nobody comes forward to claim the deposit, the Security firm will
by the end of its financial year in 2009 revert the deposit back to
CAL Bank. This will result in the money entering the CAL Bank accounting
system.

The world of private banking especially is fraught with huge rewards
for those that occupy certain offices and oversee certain portfolios;
the security firm has no single idea of the history or nature of the
deposit. They are simply awaiting instructions to release the deposit
to any party that come forward.

I would have gone ahead to ask that the funds be released to me, but
that will draw a straight line to me and my involvement in claiming the
deposit. But introducing you as a relative with the right to claim the
deposit as a next of kin will mask my involvement and participation in
diverting the deposit for personal use.

I assure you that all the documents needed to effect this claim will be
given to you immediately you notify me of your acceptance to partner with
me in claiming this deposit for our mutual benefit. I am ready tointroduce
you to my bank as the closest surviving relation; upon successful delivery
of the deposit to you.

We share the money at 60% for me while 40% shall be for you.

If you find yourself able to work with me, please contact me
Regards
Kwasi Tumi



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