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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: Richard Meddings <samdawsunonline@gmail.com>
Reply-To: richardmeddingsuk@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 6 Dec 2014 00:26:02 -0800
Subject: Very Important

FOREIGN OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT.
Standard Chartered Bank Plc,
1 Basinghall Avenue, City of London, Greater London EC2V 5DD, United
Kingdom.

How are you?

This is about the fund that was willed to you few years ago by late Michael
P. Anderson. Originally the funds were 950,000 Pounds which is exactly
US$1,612,767.50 before Michael's Life Insurance Policy paid in some amount
of money to the account together with the interest generated from the funds
and presently we have the total sum of US$6.8 Million in the account which
is in your name and in our bank right now.

The funds were not claimed because you were dealing with the wrong people
but we have good news for you today. We have a perfect plan to help you get
your funds transferred to you without paying fees.

Firstly, be noted that it cost US$150,000.00 to pay all the necessary fees
which includes taxes before the first US$5 Million of your funds is
credited to your private account but we have arranged with a financier who
would help to pay this US$150,000. Once the US$150,000 is received, we
shall clear all the outstanding fees and the first US$5 Million will be
released to your account within 24 hours. It takes less than 24 hours to
credit the first 5 million US dollars into your account afterwards the
remaining balance of US$1.8 Million will be transferred as well very easily.

This is very simple and it will surely happen as stated above if can follow
our guidelines. 19 other Customers who had similar issues with their funds
deposited in my bank have all received their funds worth millions since the
last 3 Weeks and it took less than 48 hours to finalize everything.

The only thing required of you by the financier is the 25% of the total
funds.

Please, get back to me now and we shall start processing your payment. You
are expected to have your first 5 million US dollars credited to your
account in less than two days.

A woman by name Grace has been here in London for the past 2 weeks for the
claim of this 6.8 Million dollars belonging to you. She is ready to pay all
outstanding bills to get these funds and she claims to be your beneficiary
since you are no more (she claims you are dead).

Please confirm the truth about this or she will be paid the sum of US$6.8
Million dollars as soon as possible. She has a power of attorney with her
which even makes it easier for her to have the funds except you reply to
this letter or visit the bank in person.

We only plead with you to please keep this transaction completely
confidential to protect your funds from impostors and online hackers
(impostors).

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,

Richard Meddings
Group Finance Director,
Standard Chartered Bank, London (UK)

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