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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: "Jerry Smith" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jerryggfins102@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Wed, 7 Nov 2012 05:14:27 +0100
Subject: NEXT OF KIN PROPOSAL, WITHHOLDING BALANCE OF GBP10,500,000 MILLION.

Hello

Do accept my sincere apologies if my mail does not meet your personal ethics, but let it remains as top secret for only you and I. I will introduce myself as Davis Smith a staff in the Accounts Management Section of a well-known bank in Europe. One of our accounts has a withholding balance of GBP10,500,000.00 (Ten million Five Hundred Thousand British Pounds Sterling only) and has been Dormant for over 7 years which means it has not been operated for the past 7 years.

>From my investigation and confirmation, the owner of this account a foreigner, died in August 2004 and since his death nobody has done anything as regards claiming of this money because he has no family members who were aware of the existence of neither the account nor the funds, I had discussed this matter with some of my bank Top Officials and we have agreed to find a Reliable Partner whom we can present as his next of kin.

We thus propose to do business with you, standing in as the NEXT OF KIN to the deceased, since your last name look very much the same, the funds will be released to you after due processes have been followed and necessary documentation to back this up will be presented.

This transaction is totally free of risk and troubles as the fund is legitimate and does not originate from Drug, Money Laundry, Terrorism or any other illegal act. Also, after a successful completion of this transaction, we intend shall the proceeds amongst ourselves.

If you are interested, send me the following information via email so that we can start processing this transaction: -

1. Complete Names (First and Last Names):
2. Full Address:
3. Phone and Fax numbers (for proper communication.):
4. Occupation, Age and Marital Status:

Thank you for your understanding and reply.

Regards,

Jerry Smith.

Anti-fraud resources: