joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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: "William GRAY" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <william@directorwgray.com>
Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2011 10:45:39 -0700
Subject: Do not delete PLEASE. Its urgent!

Hello,
 
 
Please pardon the abruptness of this letter; it is due to its urgency that made me contact you like this.
 
I do hope we shall have the opportunity to be formally introduced, as soon as a proper and genuine communication is established between us. I got your data from an International People Search Bulletin, while trying to contact any willing person to fit into the deal.
 
Please before you read further, note that you are being contacted for something very legitimate. It is imperative for me to know your real interest in this matter especially when you only got this proposal through the Internet.
 
I solicit your co-operation to help file for the sum of 12,000, 000.00GBP (Twelve million Pounds) in a fixed deposit account of my late client who lost his life on the 1st of June, 2009. In the Air France Flight 447 plane crash that took 228 lives, unfortunately his wife and daughter also died in the plane crash.
 
Since his death,the finance company has been expecting his/her next of kin/relative(s) for the inheritance of the deposit, but none has surfaced. The case of my late client is an unusual one as his death was abrupt and without a will covering this sum mentioned to you. This leaves me no choice but to appoint an inheritor as an executor to his estates. Now the problem here is that the policy of the finance company allows for a limited time for such inheritance claims to be made or the fund will be written off going by the record of the incident, the time limit for the claim is closing up. In this due consideration, i am contacting you to seek for your kind attention, understanding and sincere co-operation to claim this money for our both benefit.
 
This deal requires a joint venture with a foreign partner/investor, which is why I contacted you and If you accept this offer, then our success is 100% assured. I am assuring you that you stand at no risk,because I have enough information to support both of us in claiming this money safely without any problem.
 
Note: The proceedings of this transaction between us will be 50% for me 45% for you and 5% for reimbursement of any miscellaneous expenses made by both of us during this transaction.
 
Please kindly indicate your willingness through my contact information as provided below and we shall proceed with the initial step for this claim.Again, please know that to accomplish this transaction quickly and without any hindrance, you must understand that I will need your full support. This can be more easily achieved only if you follow my instructions diligently. Please, note that I will also demand maximum confidentiality in this matter.Be assured that all the necessary legal documentations will be in place upon your acceptance of this deal.
 
On your response, I require you to furnish me with your contact information as stated below, to enable me proceed immediately with the processing of this claim in favor of both of us.
 
 
Full name:......................... Country:......................... Tel#:.........................
 
Fax#:......................... Mobile#:......................... Date of birth:.........................
 
Current Occupation:.........................
 
 
For security purpose, please make sure you reply to my private email address (william@directorwgray.com) and I will respond to you as soon as possible.
 
 
Please feel free to humbly decline my proposal if you feel you can't handle it and i will respect your wishes.
 
 
Best Regards,
 
William Gray.
 

Anti-fraud resources: