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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: Mrs Jane Philips-IMF-World-Bank-Coll <pmrsjane@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2014 15:09:26 +0000 (UTC)
Subject:


Greetings of Peace!  My name is  Mrs.Philip Jane ,I work in the International operation department in a Local Bank . On a routine inspection I discovered a dormant domiciliary account with a BAL. Of £35,000.000.00{Thirty Five Million British Pounds sterling} on further discreet investigation, I also discovered that the account holder has long since passed away (dead) leaving no beneficiary to the account.   The bank will approve this money to any foreigner because the former operator of the a/c is a foreigner , in particular and I am certainly sure that he is dead, and nobody will come again for the claim of this money. A foreigner can only claim this money with legal claims to the account Holder; therefore I need your cooperation in this transaction.  I will provide the necessary information needed in order to claim this money. If interested contact me. I wish for utmost confidentiality in handling this transaction as my job and the future of my family would be jeopardized if it were breached.  Although, necessary steps has been made regards to this issue confidentially with key Bank Personnel?s and they have agreed to help if I found honest and capable person to handle this transaction to enable us transfer the value Asset out.  I want to assure you that the transaction is without risk if due process is followed accordingly. Finally, I will give you 35% for your corporation.  Urgent Reply to this; phpjones@live.com I look forward to hear from you as soon as possible Yours  Mrs.Philip Jane.

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