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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: "William Otto" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <williamotto6@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 15 Jun 2012 19:30:09 -0000
Subject: GET BACK TO ME 10

Dear Friend,

I am Mr. William Otto , I work with UBA Ghana as a computer analyst. I am 37 years of age. Having worked here for more than two years, I discovered Nine million,seven hundred,four hundred and thirty five United state dollars($9,700,435.00) in the financial archive directories not accountable in the banking record. This fund is placed in the reserve of old contractor’s bank credit. I am sure it was the old auditing companies and executive boards that left this non-inspected. No trace of it will ever be found having stored it in the proxy disk drive of my laptop.

Have carefully worked out a systematic approach to move the fund out from the account to a new account and without trace; all we need is to notarize the documents in your name as the account holder and fund depositor. I have all the coded details of this fund for easier transfer. All I require from you is your trust and utmost co-operation. Above all, can you guarantee my safety after you might have received this fund? Because I will be coming to meet with you;

I shall leave the banking premises after you might have confirmed the funds in your account. Before I am gone, I will destroy the tracer so that no one will ever suspect anything even if I am gone! This transaction is 100 risks free and trusted. I hope you can be trusted working with you?

NB: I can't discuss percentage with you until you receive the funds. But I assure you it is 50/50 show. We both will enjoy a fun share of the pie! I will provide you with further details about the funds as soon as I hear from you forwarding your information’s through my private email at:williamotto6@hotmail.com

Thank you

Yours faithfully,
Mr. William Otto

Anti-fraud resources: