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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: Sunny Louie <sunny_louie197540@outlook.com>
Reply-To: <sunny_louie19751@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 9 Aug 2014 07:12:43 +0000
Subject: I've been trying to reach you on phone


I am Mr Sunny Louie, Vice President and Branch Manager, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, (ICBC) Oakland Branch California USA.I am contacting you based on Trust and confidentiality that will be attached to this transaction.The Management and the Legal department of our Bank,(ICBC) in a recent meeting recommended that the account of LATE ROMAN BLUM,who deposited some money in my branch,should be declared Dormant,confiscated and the fund sent to the Bank Treasury according to American Banking and financial law.
LATE ROMAN BLUM own an account in my branch,with the sum of US$68.2M deposited in a Secret account.Since his death,no next of kin to the account holder nor any relative of his has shown up for the claim,this is because he has the account as a secret account thus he left all the documents for the deposit with me.This is where I am interested and where I want you to come in.I want you to come in as the relation of the deceased.I will give you the relevant documents to file the application and then effect the approvals for the transfer of the money,I will be the one to provide the vital documents for the claims of the money and then advise you exactly how we should handle it.Do not be bothered that you are not related in any way to him as I am in a position to affix your name as the next of kin.The whole Procedures will last only 9 working days to get the fund retrieved successfully without trace in future.After the transfer of the money we will share the money 60-40.
Kindly respond promptly so that I can advice you on the next step to follow.
Expecting to hear from you.
Mr Sunny LouieVice President/Branch ManagerIndustrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) USAOakland Branch,401 9th StreetOakland,CA 94607,USA

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