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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: peter eric <peter88eric@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: peterxx21eric@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Mon, 11 Jul 2011 11:58:32 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: REPLY






Dear Good Day.
Having obtained your contact from the Internet that you have been doing all what is necessary to deserve trust, coupled with my deep interest to invest in your country, I decided to contact and solicit your mutual assistance at all cost.
I am Mr.Peter Eric, Branch Manager, City Bank London
On January 6th 2002, one Engr. Bill Brian, a citizen of your country, a consultant/contractor with Gardiner & Theobald, a leading firm of project and cost management consultants, made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit, valued at 9,500,000.00(Nine Million, Five Hundred Thousand Pounds) for twelve calendar months in my Bank Branch.
Upon Maturity, we sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After a month, we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his contract employers (Gardiner & Theobald) that Engr. Bill Brian died from an automobile accident. On further inquiry, it was discovered that he died without making a WILL and all attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless.
On further investigations, it was discovered that Late Engr. Bill Brian did not declare any next of kin or relations in all his official documents, including his Bank Deposit paper work here at the Bank.
The total sum, 9,500,000.00 is still in our bank and the interest is being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year. No one will ever come forward to claim it.
In accordance with the Federal banking Laws and constitution, at the expiration of 5 (five) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Government if nobody applies as the next of Kin to claim the funds.
Consequently, I shall present you as a foreign partner to stand in as the next of kin to late Engr. Bill Brian so that you and I can benefit from the fruits of this old man's labour.
Upon acceptance of this proposal, I shall send to you the information than you will contact City Bank London" as the Next of Kin for Payment Application Form" as well as detailed information on how this deal would be transacted. Send me your personal profile.
1:Your Full Name
2:Your Occupation
3:Your Telephone & Fax numbers
We shall employ the services of a solicitor for the drafting of the LAST WILL & TESTAMENT of Late Engr. Bill Brian and to obtain all other relevant papers in your name for the necessary documentations for payment approval in my bank headquarters in your favour.
Awaiting your urgent reply.
Thanks.
Best regards,
Mr.Peter Eric
 

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