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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: "Mr. Robert Macaulay" (may be fake)
Reply-To: < mrrmacaulay@mail.ru>
Date: Thu, 20 Feb 2014 10:22:59 -0500
Subject: Awaiting your urgent reply

Dear Sir,
I am Mr. Robert Macaulay, I am a Business Manager of one of the biggest banks in the World with a branch in London, United Kingdom. I have an urgent and very confidential business proposition for you.
On the 20th of August 2008, a very rich customer of mine died with his wife in a plane crash names Mr. Jeffery Wong. Before his death, he confided in me and made a deposit in the sum of US$33,500,000 (Thirty Three Million, Five Hundred Thousand Dollars) in a suspense account in my bank for transfer to an account abroad. It is now over six years since their death and nobody has come forward to claim this money. The man had disclosed to me that he is the only surviving member of their family.  All my attempts to trace his next of kin were all fruitless.
Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in as the next of kin to this man so that the fruits of this man's labor will not get into the hands of some corrupt directors of the bank. You will not need to come to the bank before this transaction is concluded. I will arrange all the necessary documentations in your name which will prove that you are the next of kin. This is simple, I will like you to provide immediately your full names, address and telephone numbers so that I can prepare the necessary documents and affidavits which will put you in place as the next of kin. Upon the conclusion of this transaction, the money will be shared in the ratio of 60% for me and 40% for you.
There is no risk at all as all the paperwork for this transaction will be done by me and in my capacity as the Business Manager; I guarantee the successful execution of this transaction. If you are interested, please reply immediately via the private email address:  mrrmacaulay@mail.ru or fax no: + 44 20818 16677. Upon your response, I shall provide you with the relevant information to confirm the existence of this US$33,500,000 in our bank.
Awaiting your urgent reply via my contact details.
Thanks and regards.
Robert Macaulay
+44 7459 271403

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