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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: Isa Kulima <revbnat@gmail.com>
Reply-To: ikulima@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2014 13:27:41 +0100
Subject: Your Considerations

Sir,

For Security Reasons, I Decided To Reach You Through This Means. Though, I
Know, This Is Not The Safest Means To Reach You, But Was Left With No Other
Viable Option Since There Is The Pressing Need To Reach You. I Am Quite
Sure This Mail Will Surprise You Since I Have Not Been Having Previous
Correspondences With You.


Dear Friend,
I am Col.Isa Kulima(Rtd), a Board member with a bank here in Ghana.
Based on the bank high sensitiveness and security i have decided to contact
you outside the bank's sever IP for a beneficial transaction.
I Have A Good Business Proposition For You, I Know By The Special Grace Of
God Will Be Beneficial For Both Of Us. Firstly Before I Proceed, I Have To
Assure You That This Mail Is Neither Junk, Illusion Nor Mere Imagination,
But Practically Achievable If Given Your Maximum Support And Cooperation.

There is an account here in my bank with Twenty Four Million US
Dollars($24M.USD) The bank will be transferring the funds Into the Bank
treasury as an unclaimed fund by the end of this year as stipulated by the
banking law over such account that linger as dormant for more than five
years.
I request you to partner with me and my colleagues to get it done. I will
file an application of claim in your name with the information of the
deceased (Owner)and the account as the beneficiary of the account. Please
this is supposed to take us only few bank working days to conclude the
transfer. We have everything in place before contacting you and there is no
risk.

I need your urgent reply, so we can start the paper works. Sharing pattern
will be discussed on acceptance.
NOTE: Please, reply to my alternative email: ikulima@gmail.com

Thanks yours sincerely.
Col.I Kulima(Rtd)

Anti-fraud resources: