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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: "AWALA SMITH" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <smith.washington01@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2012 23:29:36 +0100
Subject: Very Urgent and Important Business henr60

Dear friend,

I am a staff of IDB BANK, Benin Republic. I want to transfer an abandoned sum of US$5.5million into your bank account for us to share it. The depositor is Late Saif al-Arab Gaddafi. On 30th April 2011, the Libyan government reported that Saif Al-Arab and three of his young nieces and nephews were killed by a NATO airstrike on his house during the 2011 Libyan civil war leaving nobody for the claim.

I have all the information about the Deceased customer`s account and as such, we can both collect the money without any problem. There is no risk involve in this transaction. Your share will be 40% while 60% will be for me. If you can do this business and keep the top secret then, contact me through this my email address smith.washington01@gmail.com

Kindly forward your banking details for the transfer as indicated below:
Your bank name.........
Bank address....
Account number....
Your private email address...
Your Private phone number......

See more here: http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/110501/gaddafi-son-grandchildren-killed-nato-airstrike-libya-video

I will make sure that I destroy every documents concerning this transaction as soon as the fund is transfer into your account. As an insider in the bank, I will be reaching you with all information about the transaction until the fund is transfer into your account. I am waiting to hear from you as to enable me give you the text of application to fill for the release of the fund.

yours truly,
Smith Awala.

Anti-fraud resources: