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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: "Mr Morris William" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ronsila888@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 30 Oct 2013 03:53:49 -0800
Subject: Re:I Need Your Audience Urgently Please.

I'm a banker at HSBC Bank in London, UK. In my department I discovered
an abandoned sum of US$90.000.000 (Ninety Million United States
Dollar) in an offshore account deposited as bank bonds by an
Indonesian customer, Mr. Joel Waworundeng who was a Victim of the 2011
Tsunami in Japan.
 
 
 
Up to date no next of kin or relative of his has come forward to put
claim his money because and the bank cannot release the fund unless
somebody applies for it as next of kin or relation to the deceased as
indicated in our banking guidelines.
 
 
Unfortunately, I learned that his supposed next of kin being his only daughter
died also on this Tsunami disaster leaving nobody with the knowledge of the
existence of this fund.
 
It is therefore upon this discovery that I now decided to strike
a deal with you so that we can work together and get the fund approved
for release in your favor as the next of kin, relative or  business
partner to the deceased depositor as the only beneficiary of the fund
for safety keeping and subsequent disbursement.
 
 
Since nobody is putting  claims to it and I don’t want this money
to go back into the government of the United Kingdom treasury
as unclaimed asset.
 
 
 
The banking laws and guidelines here stipulate that if such money
remained unclaimed after 7 years, it  will be transferred into banking
treasury as unclaimed funds. If you agree  40%  of this money would be
for you as gratification for assistance rendered for the claim of this
fund, while 60% would be for me.
 
 
I will visit your country for the disbursement according to the percentages
indicated above once this money gets into your account.
 
Please be honest to me as trust stands to be our watchword in this transaction.
I assure you that your role is risk free to accord this transaction the legality it
deserves as with all modalities put in place.  we will actualize a hitch free
transfer of the fund so Kindly signify your interest by sending me an
email for further procedures relating to this transaction.
 
 
 
Every necessary arrangement for the smooth release of the fund to your
name begins once I hear from me with the intention of working with me.
Finally, we shall actualize this goal and the fund will be transferred within
a few bank working days as soon as you reply to me.
 
 
 
Best regards,
 
Morris William

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