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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: Garry Reynolds <garryreynolds18@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 11 Sep 2014 14:44:17 +0100
Subject: TREAT WITH UTMOST CONFIDENTIALITY


I write to seek your assistance to move out fund valued £7,522,612 GBP
(Seven Million, Five Hundred and Twenty-two Thousand, Six Hundred and
twelve British pounds Sterling) only.

My name is Garry Reynolds, a banker based here in London United Kingdom, I
am going to be presenting you as available beneficiary to a late client.
This is because you have the "express ticket" that is most valuable to the
success of this pursuit (your last name). Since you have a similar last
name to the late account beneficiary, it will be most credible to establish
you as the next of kin/beneficiary.

I took this decision basically because of this reason and I hope it is
going to open up a good business relationship that will stand the test of
time between you and I.

I will process papers presenting you as the inheritor to the account and
the fund therein and it will be transferred to your nominated account
without any problems. Be aware that I am in good position to work on the
files of the late account holder and present who the inheritor is to my
bank.

There are practically no risks involved as long as you will remain honest
to me and follow my instructions. The processes will be executed under a
very legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the
law and it will be simply a bank-to-bank Telegraphic transfer
(Swift/Telex). Your major role would be to stand as the beneficiary to this
fund in my bank and provide an account where the fund will be transferred
to.

If you accept write me back via (garryreynolds08@gmail.com) and I will tell
you what we will do to accomplish this.

Please note that the information I am passing to you in this mail should be
handled with UTMOST CONFIDENTIALITY and must not be divulged in any way or
manner to anybody no matter how close to you. Simply delete this mail if
you are not interested as I will prefer fewer questions asked both within
and outside my bank. Your participation will be 40% of the total fund.

My kind regards,
Garry Reynolds

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