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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: marymx112@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Sun, 09 Dec 2012 18:56:15 -0800
Subject: FROM MRS. MARY MAX. TREAT AS URGENT.



FROM: MRS. MARY MAX.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR;
PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE COMPANY.
LAGOS - NIGERIA.

Dear Friend,
I feel quite safe dealing with you in this mutual beneficial
transaction. Though, this medium (Internet) has been greatly
abused, I choose to reach you through it because it still
remains the fastest, surest and most secured medium of
communication. However, this correspondence is purely
private, and it should be treated as such. I also guarantee
you that this deal is hitch free from all what you may think
of. I am MRS. MARY MAX, Executive Director in charge of
Claims and Indemnity of PRUDENTIAL Insurance Company. I am
contacting you based on Trust and confidentiality that will
be attached to this deal for the benefit of both of us.

The Management and the Legal / Treasury Department of this
PRUDENTIAL Insurance Company in a recent meeting,
recommended that the account of MR. ROBERT FINKELSTEIN, who
maintained a Life Assurance Policy, should be declared
Dormant and confiscated hence moving his unclaimed benefits
funds to the Treasury according to our Banking and Financial
law. Recently, I came across a very huge sum of money
belonging to a deceased person (MR. ROBERT FINKELSTEIN). He
is foreigner, unfortunately He is now late as he was amongst
those that was Killed in the recent plane crash during his
visit to London, as you can confirm through this website
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm

This man was our client and has a Life Assurance Policy
WORTH the sum of Forty Five Million United States Dollars
(US$45,000,000.00). Right now, the fund is lying unclaimed
in our custody and there is NO next of kin mentioned in his
file and there is NO HOW we can reach any of his other
relatives. All efforts made by us to establish contacts with
any other of his relation has proved abortive and
unsuccessful. His Life Assurance Policy will expire in the
next few months from the date of this letter. Just last week
we received an instruction from Ministry of Social Welfare
to forward particulars of all unclaimed benefits that will
expire in the next few months. Upon my personal finding on
this matter, I kept this information secret to myself until
now that I am contacting you. In view of the fact that the
deceased customer is a foreigner (from a different country),
it is Officially important for the involvement of a
foreigner who will pose as a next-of-kin.

I will use my exalted position in this Insurance Company to
present you as his Next of Kin as you can be his relative,
friend or Cousin and the Money (US$45Million) will be Safely
transferred into your own bank account in your country.
Please include your telephone/fax number/ Home Address when
replying this mail and I will give you more information as
soon as you indicate your willingness to assist in this
viable transaction.

I will use my exalted position here to get all internal
documentations to back up the claims. The whole Procedures
will last only 5 working days to get the fund retrieved
successfully Without trace even in future. Please I need the
following:
1. YOUR FULL NAME
2. PHONE AND FAX NUMBER
3. HOME ADDRESS/COMPANY'S NAME AND ADDRESS.
4. YOUR AGE AND OCCUPATION

The transaction will be done successfully and smoothly
completed via email and telephone. You don't need to come to
my country. Send your full name, address and telephone
number to me via email urgently today so that I will call
you for discussions. I PROMISE that you must be happy and
shall rejoice greatly soonest for cooperation with me in
this transaction. After successful conclusion of this
transaction, we shall share the money 50-50 (50% for you and
50% for me).

I await your good response today. Thanks and remain blessed.
I require you to maintain the confidentiality of this
transaction because it is important due to the fact that I
am still in active services to the PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE
COMPANY. Your earliest response to this matter is very
important.

I AM WAITING YOUR REPLY.

Kind Regards,
MRS. MARY MAX.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR; PRUDENTIAL Insurance

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