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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: "Spinnaker Support" <bentony06@link.net>
Reply-To: bar.bentony@yahoo.ca
Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2013 19:26:03 +0000
Subject: Re: Proposition

Sir,

Permit me to bring a matter of utmost importance to your observation with hope we can find a common ground of understanding for a mutually beneficial project.

I am Benson Tony, I had a client who was a consultant with an oil company in Nigeria.On the 19th of May 2005. My client and his wife were involved in an auto crash accident. Unfortunately they lost their lives in the event of the accident, Since then I have made several contacts as to locate any of his extended relatives, but all proved abortive.Hence I decided to contact you.

I am contacting you to assist in retrieving the money that was left behind by my client with the bank, before it gets confiscated or declared in-serviceable by the bank. Consequently,The bank issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next ten official working days. since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 5 years now, I hereby seek your consent to act as the next of kin to the deceased, the proceeds can be paid to you and then you and I can share the money.I have all the necessary legal documents that can be used to back up this project.

You shall stand as the next of kin/beneficiary to the fund deposited by my late client to enable you receive the funds.

Please endeavor to observe utmost discretion in all matters concerning this issue. I have worked out a procedure that will ensure success, and as a lawyer,I will ensure that all our actions are within the confines of the law.

Should you be interested please,furnish me with your most direct tel and cell phone numbers for oral conversation after which I will provide you with more details of this transaction and how to proceed.

Your earliest response to this letter will be appreciated.

My utmost respect,

Benson Tony

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