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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. Frank Brown" <ukghhighc1@globomail.com>
Reply-To: ukghhighc@globomail.com
Date: Thu, 22 Sep 2011 14:41:10 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Re: Hello


Please pardon me for intruding into your privacy without pre-notification before presenting this offer to you as it is utterly confidential and genuine by virtue of its nature. I request that you read to your understanding and quickly get back to me for us to proceed. I got your contact through my research, and contact you directly. I know it will sound funny to you but is a reality.
I am Mr. Frank Brown, the branch manager in one of the local banks here in Ghana,  I write to solicit your assistance in a transfer of fund of US$9.5Million, deposited by a foreign investor for an investment program that has remained dormant for years now. I discovered that the account holder Mr. Johnson died without a Will on the depository information.
It is certain that this money cannot be approved to a local bank account with reference to our banking rules, but can be approved to a foreign account. I am contacting you to stand as the next of kin to the fund as am going to present you to the much advantage that you have the same surname with him and to the best result that our management will make a successful release of the fund to your account custody.
I shall provide you with more details that will help you understand the transaction. I only need your assistance and co-operation to realize this transaction as I have done all necessary home-work and fine tune the best way to make you the beneficiary of the fund. My position as the branch Manager of the Bank will be used to advance the transaction.
We shall involve an Attorney who will draft and carry out the notarization of the WILL and also obtain the necessary documents and letter of probate/administration in your name for the claim. I will appreciate your early reply for commencement of this transaction. Please endeavor to get back to me for acknowledgment by email and whereby you are not interested, quickly indicate in your reply so that I can seek for the assistance of someone else.
Upon your response, I will configure your name on our database as the next of kin to this depository, and I will then guide you on how to apply to my head office for the Account Closure/ bank-to-bank remittance of the funds to your designated bank account or via-bank-draft at your choice for our benefit.
If you concur with this proposal, I intend for you to retain 50% of the funds while 50% shall be for me base on our individual roles as this is two (2) men business transaction deal. I also implore you to make the below details of yourself available on your response to enable me regularize your details on our database and an Attorney will be able to prepare the necessary documents and affidavit which will put you in place as the next of kin for the claim.
1) Your full Name:2) Your address:3) Cell phone number:4) Marital Status:5) Age:6) Occupation:
Regards,
Mr. Frank BrownBranch Manager

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