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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. Cornway" <mr.mg_cornway44@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2014 23:12:45 -0000
Subject: Re:Mr.Cornway



I AM MR. MG.CORNWAY, THE BRANCH MANAGER IN UNION BANKS HERE IN LONDON. I
AM CONTACTING YOU BASED ON TRUST AND CONFIDENTIALITY THAT IS NEEDED IN
THIS BUSINESS.THE MANAGEMENT AND THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT OF OUR BANK, IN OUR
RECENT BOARD MEETING, RECOMMENDED THAT THE ACCOUNT OF DR.MARSHALL MARTIN
FROM YOUR COUNTRY ,WHO WAS ONE OF MY BRANCH DEPOSITOR, SHOULD BE DECLARED
DORMANT AND UNCLAIMED AND IF ANY BANK DECLARES ANY ACCOUNT DORMANT OR
UNCLAIMED ,THE FUNDS HAS TO BE CONFISCATED .THROUGH THE BANKS TREASURY
ACCORDING TO BANKING AND FINANCIAL LAW OF OUR COUNTRY.THE CLIENT IS A
FOREIGNER BASED IN THE NORTHERN PART OF MY COUNTRY.UNFORTUNATELY HE DIED
WITH HIS ENTIRE FAMILY WIFE AND TWO SONS ON A FATAL AUTO ACCIDENT ON
OCTOBER 1ST 2012 HIS ACCOUNT BALANCE AS AT THE TIME OF HIS UNTIMELY DEATH
WAS USD$118.MILLION.(ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTEEN MILLION UNITED STATES
DOLLARS ONLY)FROM THEIR ME AND TWO OTHER TOP OFFICIALS PICK INTEREST TO
MOVE THIS FUNDS OUT TO BETTER OUR LIFE'S INSTEAD ALLOWING
THE FUNDS GO TO THE GOVERNMENTS.WE ARE GOING TO MAKE ALL THE UNDERGROUND
ARRANGEMENT SECRETLY HERE INSIDE THE BANK.
THE WHOLE PROCEDURES WILL LAST ONLY 7 WORKING DAYS TO GET THE FUNDS
RETRIEVED SUCCESSFULLY WITHOUT TRACE IN FUTURE.
AFTER SUCCESSFUL EXECUTION OF THIS TRANSACTION .WE SHALL SHARE THE MONEY
AS FOLLOWS: 25% FOR YOU, WHILE 75% WILL FOR ME AND MY COLLEAGUES.
YOURS TRULY,
MR. MG.CORNWAY

Anti-fraud resources: