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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: Salam Traore <salam.traore@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 18 Jul 2012 09:34:25 +0100 (BST)
Subject: I await your response..




Dear Friend, I anticipate that you read thismail quickly and let me know your opinion or willingness on this classifiedinformation that I will release to you. Firstly, I am the regional managerof the Bank of Africa. I am writing to solicit your assistance in the transferof $10.5M (Ten Million, Five Hundred Thousand Dollars Only) to your account. This fund is the excess of what mybranch in which I am the regional manager made deposit in the dormant accountfor the last ten years. I have already submitted an approved End of the Yearreport to my Head Office here in Burkina Faso and they will neverknow of Excess this. I have since then, placed this amount of $10 500, 000.00On a SUSPENSE ACCOUNT without a beneficiary. As an officer of the bank, I cannotbe directly connected to this money thus I am impelled to request for yourassistance to receive this money into your bank account. I intend to give you40% of the total amount, 50% will be for me and 10% for
any expenses the mayaccrued during the transaction. I do need to stress that there are practicallyno risk involved in this. It is going to be a bank-to-bank transfer to yournominated bank account anywhere you feel safer. All I need from you is to standas the original depositor of this fund. If you accept this offer, I willappreciate your timely response and this transaction is CONFIDENTIAL. Forfurther details upon your acceptance of this offer. With Regards,Mr. Salam Traore     

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