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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: Larry Polk <l.rice784@gmail.com>
Reply-To: a.center33@msn.com
Date: Thu, 2 Oct 2014 16:26:47 +0000
Subject: Treat as urgent/

DEAR FRIEND,

How are you? I am MR LARRY POLK, the director in charge of auditing and
accounting section of AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK (A.D.B) in Tema Ghana. With
due respect and regard I have decided to contact you on a business
transaction that will be very beneficial to both of us at the end of the
transaction.

>From my Department in the bank, I discovered an abandoned sum of TEN
MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS ($10 Million) that belongs to one of our
customer who died along with his entire families, on 25th JULY,2000
CONCORDE PLANE CRASH[Flight AF4590 ] with the whole passengers aboard. The
name of the deceased man was (MR. ANDREAS SCHRANNER from Munich,Germany).

In fact I could have done this deal alone but because of my position in
this country as a civil servant(A Banker) We are not allowed to operate a
foreign account and would eventually raise an eye brow on my side during
the time of transfer because I work in this bank.

This is the actual reason why it will require a second party or fellow who
will forward claims as the next of kin to the Bank and also present a
foreign account where he will need the money to be re-transferred into on
his request as it may be after due verification and clarification by the
correspondent branch of the bank where the $10 Million United States
Dollars will be remitted from to your own designation bank account.

I don't want this money to go into the Bank treasury as unclaimed Bill,
Besides our Banking law and guideline here stipulates that if such funds
remained unclaimed after 15 years, the money will be transferred into the
Bank treasury as unclaimed fund. The request of foreigner as next of kin in
this business is occasioned by the fact that the customer was a foreigner
and a citizen of my country cannot stand as next of kin to a foreigner.

I will not fail to inform you that this transaction is 100% risk free. On
smooth conclusion of this transaction, you will be entitled to 30% of the
total sum as gratification, while 10% will be set aside to take care of
expenses that may arise during the time of transfer and also telephone
bills, while 60% will be for me. Please, you have been advised to keep "top
secret" as i am still in service and intend to retire from service after I
conclude this deal with you.

I will be monitoring the whole situation here in this bank until you
confirm the money in your account and i will come down to your country for
subsequent sharing of the fund according to percentages previously
indicated and further investment, either in your country or any country you
advice us to invest in. All other necessary vital information will be sent
to you when I hear from you. I look forward to receive your response for
more discussion. email: a.center33@msn.com

Yours faithfully,
Mr, Larry Polk.

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