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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: Mark Ibrahim <mark_ibra26@yahoo.se>
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2012 11:41:33 +0100 (BST)
Subject: I await your response..




Dear Friend,

I anticipate that you read this mail quickly and let me know your opinion or willingness on this classified information that I will release to you.

Firstly, I am the regional manager of the Bank of Africa. I am writing to solicit your assistance in the transfer of $10.5M (Ten Million, Five Hundred Thousand Dollars Only) to your account.

This fund is the excess of what my branch in which I am the regional manager made deposit in the dormant account for the last ten years. I have already submitted an approved End of the Year report to my Head Office here in Burkina Faso and they will never know of Excess this. I have since then, placed this amount of $10 500, 000.00 On a SUSPENSE ACCOUNT without a beneficiary.

As an officer of the bank, I cannot be directly connected to this money thus I am impelled to request for your assistance to receive this money into your bank account. I intend to give you 40% of the total amount, 50% will be for me and 10% for any expenses the may accrued during the transaction. I do need to stress that there are practically no risk involved in this. It is going to be a bank-to-bank transfer to your nominated bank account anywhere you feel safer. All I need from you is to stand as the original depositor of this fund

If you accept this offer, I will appreciate your timely response and this transaction is CONFIDENTIAL. For further details upon your acceptance of this offer.

With Regards,
Mr. Mark Ibrahim

Anti-fraud resources: