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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: "Mr. Eric Wright" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ericwright03@videobank.it>
Date: Fri, 2 Sep 2011 13:34:04 +0400
Subject: hi


I am Mr. Eric Wright, the Executive Auditor and head of computing department
here in United Kingdom. This email is very confidential and is for you alone. I
got your e-mail address through my search for a reliable person/company in your
country, who can be willing and able to do business with me.

I want to transfer a very huge amount of money, Fifteen Million Pounds Sterling
(?15,000,000.00), that belongs to Late Mr. John Hughes, the Director and owner
of Petrochemical Service from Australia. Who died since 1998 without a will.
Through my investigation, I found out that no one knew about this account. And I
am his personal account Manager; I have with me all the vital documents to this
fund.


However, I need your maximum assistance and cooperation towards this by
providing me an empty bank account of yours, where the fund will be transferred.
After the transfer process is concluded and the money is in your bank account, I
will quickly make arrangement for a trip to your country for the withdrawing and
sharing of the money.


Note: The sharing ratio goes like this, you will be given 30% of the total
amount of the money, while 60% will be mine and 10% goes for any miscellaneous
expenses incurred during the transfer.
I need a strong assurance from you that you will not disappoint me when the
money gets to your bank account.


Kindly reply me on <ericwright02@videobank.it> and briefly explain your interest towards this business.

Regards,
Mr. Eric Wright

Anti-fraud resources: