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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: Anthony Bennin <benjaminasafo@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mranthonybennin1@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 14 Oct 2013 00:46:12 -0700
Subject: Attn: My Dear.

Attn: My Dear.

I am Mr. Anthony Bennin of Fidelity Bank Ghana Ltd, please I want to
know if you are the owner of this Email address. Be informed that am
being careful in giving out this information for security reasons and
to avoid transferring this particular funds to wrong person Note,there
was our customer a foreigner Mr Konrad who bears the same last name
with you, due to numerous natural disasters that hit the Asian
countries and other parts of the world some time , most of our
customers lost their lives during the flood and earthquake.

As the Director Treasury Services of the bank, with responsibilities
for Treasury . I have been making inquiries to get the next of kin to
this customer to enable our bank re-transfer his funds which he
deposited with us to his next of kin as stipulated in our banking
system here. Fortunately while I was going through some Docket-Files
in my office. I came across where this customer wrote this (E-mail and
your Name) as the only person to be contacted if anything happens to
him or his family. This is the reason why I said you should confirm if
this is your e-mail address .

Meanwhile the money involved which our late client. Deposited with us
is (US$7,200,000.00) and according to the banking rules here , if any
account is dormant without service for the period of five years, it
will be confiscated and recalled to the bank treasury as unclaimed. I
want to verify if really you are the right owner of this Email so that
our wire transfer unit, will officially reach you and carry on the
transfer.

Confirm your particulars , Your Personal telephone/fax number,copy of
your identification and your delivery address to enable us verify and
program your information in our data-file. Once your details are
confirmed then our wire transfer unit will officially contact you and
commence on transferring the funds to you without further delay.

I wait for your urgent reply.

Sincerely Yours
Mr .Anthony Bennin

Anti-fraud resources: