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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.Ruben Hesus. <dr.pereh@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: <rubenhesus11@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 25 Sep 2014 11:05:57 -0400
Subject: Good day,

Dear

Good morning. I know my letter will come to you as a surprise based on the fact we don’t know each other. First of all let me introduce myself, my name is Mr.Ruben Hesus. I work with Banco BBVA situated in Barcelona Spain. I have a confidential business proposal that I wish to present to you. I am contacting you in regards to our deceased client, who was a victim of a car accident in December, 2007. He was a prominent client of our bank who happens to bear the same SURNAME with you.

Before his death, he deposited the sum of ( $25,500,000,00 USD) Twenty Five Million and Five Hundred Thousand US Dollar with our Bank. Documentations regarding these indicate that claims must be done by his relatives or family member! Unfortunately he died with his wife and 2 children and he had no will or outstanding instructions in regards to this deposit before his death.

We have carried out every efforts and revealed no link to any of his family member. However, because of the international financial problems, a lot of reform has been made within the Spanish financial system; this includes the new law on succession/claims which indicates a duration in which such inheritance could be tolerated. For this reason I decided to contact you, to present you as the next of kin family representative to our deceased customer.

I have put in place all necessary documentations concerning the release of this deposit fund and it is my intention to introduce this opportunity to you based on the fact that you bear the same surname with our late client. Nobody is coming for this deposit and we are sure that he died with his entire family. I have all the legal documents that will prove you as the family representative.
Upon your acceptance to cooperate with me, I agree that 40% of this deposit money will be for you as a foreign partner, while 50% will be for me and my colleague here in our office, while 10% will be mapped out for charity donations.

For security & confidentiality reasons, I strongly advise that you contact me through my email immediately after you receive this letter. You should get in touch with me with your contact details, private telephone and private fax number and your email contact. Once I receive your response I will immediately get in contact with you with more details and the next step.

In conclusion, it’s my utmost concern to demand your ultimate honesty, co-operation and confidentiality. I GUARANTEE that this process will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will legally protect you from any breach of law.

Thank you and I urgently look forward to hear from you.

Yours, Sincerely.
Mr.Ruben Hesus.

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