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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 Thomas Kingston <thomask@teacher.pl>
Reply-To: <mrthomaskingston@one.co.il>
Date: Thu, 08 Sep 2011 02:55:11 +0100
Subject: YOUR URGENT ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED....



--
For both our benefit.............

I am Mr Thomas Kingston from Ghana , West Africa, here in Accra . I
workwith Metropolitan and Allied Bank , (MAB) I am writing following an
opportunity in my office that will be of an immense benefit to both of
us.

In my department we discovered an abandoned sum of US$17 Million {US
dollars} an account that belongs to one of our foreign customers Late
Mr.David Clementson an American who unfortunately lost his life in the
plane crash which crashed on August 13, 2001, including his wife and
only daughter.

The choice of contacting you is aroused from the geographical nature of
where you live, particularly due to the sensitivity of the transaction
and the confidentiality herein.

Now our bank has been waiting for any of the relatives to come-up for
the claim but nobody has done that.

I personally have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for 2
years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin / Will
Beneficiary to the deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued
at $17 Million Dollars can be paid to you. This will be disbursed or
shared in these percentages, 60% to me and 40% to you.

All I require now is your honest co-operation; confidentiality and
trust to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee you that
this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect
you from any breach of the law. Please, provide me the following: as we
have seven (7) days to run it through.

This is very URGENT PLEASE. KINDLY send the details below:

1. Full Name

2. Telephone Number

3. Contact Address

4. Age

5.Occupation

Your urgent response will be highly anticipated and appreciated.

Best regards,

Mr.Thomas Kingston

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