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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: "m_johnson" <m_johnson@katamail.com>
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 2014 14:56:09 +0100
Subject: PRIVATE




Hello,

 

My name is Mr. Maurice Johnson; I am an Accountant and
presently working with one of the prime banks in South Africa for over 18 years
now. I am making this contact with you in good faith; I have decided to contact
you for confidential, urgent and rewarding joint business.

 

I have carried out research into a dormant account of a
deceased client at the financial institute where I presently audit its accounts
here in South Africa, of which the client has no heirs. The account has a
significant amount of money in it. An account is judged to be dormant if there
has been no activity in it or no contact with the client for 15 years.
Normally, account holders lose contact due to death without leaving a will and
there's no known heir to inherit. The treasury department receives the
unclaimed money unless a previously unknown distant relative puts a claim on
it; which is usually within a limited time frame.

 

The South Africa Treasury Department receives over 5bn
Dollars every year from unclaimed estates; forgotten funds; abandoned shares
and dormant accounts, some of it could be ours if we can work together as I can
provide all relevant documents and information. I could present you as the next
of kin to deceased, as laid out in section 46 of the Administration of Estates
Act of 1925 (with subsequent amendments) if you agree to work with me.

 

I will need to enter into an agreement with you, which
will cover the disbursement aspect of funds. Furthermore, you will have to sign
a consent form that gives the lawyer power of attorney to represent you at the
probate office (for the Procurement of the Grant of Probate). The amount in
question currently stands at Twelve Million Seven Hundred Thousand United
States Dollars only. At the closure of this transaction, 30% of the total funds
will be yours, 60% for me and 10% will be set aside for expenses that might be
incurred during the course of the transaction. So, if you would like to team up
with me discreetly to secure these funds for ourselves, please have your full
information sent to me which include full name, address, age, and occupation
and direct contact number.

 

I await your careful considered answer, as this is once
in a life time opportunity.

 

Regards,

Mr. Maurice Johnson


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