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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: "Stoddard Lawrence" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <lawrencestoddard@rocketmail.com>
Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2013 01:25:06 +0800
Subject: I Solicit Your Strict Assistance

I Solicit Your Strict Assistance

RE-TRANSFER OF $52,954,000.00 {Fifty Two Million Nine Hundred And Fifty Four Thousand British Pounds Sterling}

I am aware that this is certainly an unconventional approach to start a relationship. I am Mr. Stoddard Lawrence, a professional accountant from UK, and I am the personal account officer to the great late deceased who has an account in our bank here in London, United Kingdom.

The account was opened in 2004 and he died in 17th April 2006 without a (written or oral WILL) and since 2006 nobody has operated on this account, hence the money is floating, and if I do not remit this money out urgently it will be forfeited for nothing, In August 2008 when my bank was having liquidation problems, I immediately reasoned very professionally and resolved that it will be unwise for me to allow this huge deposit returned to the Government of Britain as an unclaimed deposit. And Government of United Kingdom would have confiscated the funds for their personal use which I personally wouldn't want to happen; being that this is a great opportunity in my life. Therefore I was able to make a swift transfer of the total sum to another bank for safe keep. My contacting you is to please assist transfer the fund {$52,954,000.00} . First, I must solicit your strictest confidence in this transaction.

This is by virtue of its nature as being utterly confidential. I am sure and having confidence in your ability and reliability to prosecute a transaction of this great magnitude. I solicit your assistance to enable us transfer the said amount into your safe account for onward investment. You can either provide us with an existing account or to set up a new Bank account immediately to receive this money, even an empty a/c can serve to receive this money, as long as you will remain honest to me till the end of this important business, trusting in you and believing in God that you will never let me down in future when the funds will be transferred into your account.

The owner of this account is a foreigner and no other person knows about this account or anything concerning it, the account has no other beneficiary. My investigation through the National immigration department and Ministries here proved to me as well that he was single as at the time of his entry into the United Kingdom. As a matter of fact, I have decided to transfer this fund abroad for investment only.

Your assistance as a foreigner is necessary because the management of the bank will welcome any foreigner who has correct information to this account which I will give to you immediately.

If you are interested, please fill and forward me the following information as below:

{1} Your Name/company's name and full address:.............
{2} Bank Name:..........
{3} Bank Address.........
{4} Account No:............
{5} Swift Code.............{if any}
{6} Account Holder's Name: ............
{7} Your telephone Number both Home, Office &
Cell/Mobile and fax Numbers:........
{8} Your Occupation:.........
{9} Your Country:.............
{10} Age:..........................

In acknowledgment of receipt of the above details, the remaining information regarding the decease will be furnishing you with, to enable you contact the bank for the onward processing of the fund.
I am waiting very urgently to hear from you.

Regards,
Stoddard Lawrence.

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