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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: George Michael <gmikm772@msn.com>
Reply-To: <georgeofficeuk@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 3 May 2012 15:29:43 +0000
Subject: From Mr. George Michael (Urgent Please)






From: Mr.George Michael.
Private & Very Safe!
Tonbridge,
Kent TN11 9DZ,
United Kingdom
Please do accept my sincere apologies if my mail does not meet your personal ethics although, and I know that this mail will come to you as a surprise as we never met before. I wish to use this medium to get in touch with you first because it is a fastest means. My name is Mr.George Michael,I am an external auditor working with a well known bank here in the United Kingdom.
I humbly and sincerely wish to solicit for your assistance to transfer the sum of £48,000.000.00{Fourty Eight Million British Pounds Sterling} to any safe account with your honest assistance. I have every possibility for the accumulated proceed to be paid in your favour and then both of us will share the value equal percentage. I want to ask you, If you are interested and capable to handle this business quietly with me to provide either an existing bank account or to set up a new Bank a/c immediately to receive this money, even an empty a/c can serve for the purpose, as long as you will remain honest to me till the end of this important business trusting in you and believing in God that you will never let me down either now or in the future.
Although, necessary steps has been made regards to this issue confidentially with key Bank Personnel’s and they have agreed to help if I found honest and capable person to handle this transaction to enable us transfer the value Asset out from UK. I guarantee that this will be executed under a concrete special arrangement that will protect us from any breach of law. I will not fail to bring to your notice that this transaction is total hitch-free and you should not entertain any fear because good arrangement has been outlined for successful conclusion. If you are willing and capable to handle this business with me in full confidence & trust, please do not hesitate to send me this information so that I will call you for more details about the business.
Your full name......
Name of your country....
Your phone number.......
on receipt of your response I will furnish you with detailed clarification as it relates to this mutual benefit transaction.
I look forward hearing from you as soon as possible.
Regard.
Mr.George Michael

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