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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.

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 PARKER <williamparker2006@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: pwilliam391@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 17 Feb 2012 21:36:16 -0500
Subject: READ AND REPLY!!



Good Day,

Let me start by introducing myself, I am MR. WILLIAMS PARKER and i
work with one of the Bank Here in United Kingdom. I am writing you
this letter based on the latest development at my bank, which I will
like to bring to your personal interest. I am writing you this letter
with so much joy and excitement even though my heart goes out to the
very powerful and distinguished gentleman who I was Fortunate to have
worked for and extremely privileged to have known for numerous years.
I am a top official in charge of client accounts in LIOYDS TSB BANK
here in United Kingdom.

In 2001, my client was going through a horrendous divorce in the
United States of America and was on the verge of losing most of his
estate to his vicious and diabolical wife. As a result of this
alarming predicament, my client came to me with a Very brilliant idea.
He transferred some funds,Twenty million Five Hundred Thousand United
State Dollars ($20.5m) to a fixed deposit account in my bank under an
alias which only the two of us knew about as the confidentiality of
the matter was necessary for his protection.

Due to his untimely death in early 2002, the funds have been sitting
in the account ever since and will continue to do so unless we do
something about it. This is where you come in. I located you through
an agency that helps seek people by their email. My client did not
declare any next of kin in his official papers including the paper
work of his bank deposit. Against this backdrop, my suggestion to you
is that I would like you as a foreigner to stand as the next of kin to
our client so that you will be able to receive his funds.

I want you to know that I have had everything planned out so that we
can come out successful. I have contacted an attorney that will
prepare the necessary document that will back you up as the next of
kin to my client. All that is required from you at this stage is for
you to provide me with your Full Names and Address so that he attorney
can commence his job.

After you have been made the next of kin, the attorney will also file
in for claims on your behalf and secure the necessary approval and
letter of probate in your favor for the move of the funds to an
account that will be provided by you. There is no risk involved at all
in the matter as we are going to adopt a legalized method and the
attorney will prepare all the necessary documents. The allocation of
our money will be as follows: 30%($6.15m) to you for your part in
this, 65% for me and my partners and 5%for any unforeseeable expenses
we may incur and I think this is extremely fair, as you have nothing
to lose but just a little time, while on the other hand I am staking
my flawless reputation among other things. And besides $6.15 million
is not a pocket change.

Once you are approved, the entire transaction should take no longer
than twelve business days after which we will go about our daily
business, but just millions of dollars richer. As you can see this is
easier than taking candy from a baby, but mind you, trust is something
that is developed over time and that is something that we do not have.

So I have to let you know that it will highly unfeasible to try to run
away with the money Because even though only you can transfer money in
and out of your account, the Transfer can only be authorized by my
department of which I happen to be the head. The money will be
transferred from my bank to an account you will provide. So please,
there should be no room for greed because Twenty million five hundred
thousand dollars can quench even the most insatiable desire for the
almighty dollar.

Again, I will be in charge Of everything else. I will assume all
responsibilities for this endeavor so you don't have to worry about
any legal ramifications, just what you will do with all that money.
Your Urgent response is highly anticipated so please email me through
this email Address (pwilliam391@gmail.com) for more details on this
transaction as Soon as possible.

This should be kept very secret and confidential.

Kind Regards,
Williams Parker


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