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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: Patrick Rozan <patrickrozan@yahoo.pt>
Date: Mon, 15 Dec 2014 07:25:58 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Expression of Interest


Hello, 
I have been in search of someone with this last name of your family, when I saw your name I was pushed to contact you and see  how best we can assist each other. I am Patrick Rozan, a Banker here in Netherlands, I believe it is the wish of God for me to  come across you on Skype. I have an important business discussion I wish to share with you which I believe will  interest you because it is in connection with your last name and you are going to benefit from it. A Late client of my Bank and a citizen of your country had a fixed deposit with my bank in 2004 for 48 calendar months valued at €8,400,000.00 (Eight Million, Four Hundred Thousand Euros Only) the due date for this deposit contract was the 16th of  January 2008, sadly Roy was among the dead victims in the May 26 2006 Earthquake disaster in Jawa, Indonesia that killed over 5,000 people, he was in Indonesia on a business trip where he met his death.
My bank management is yet to know about his death, I knew about it because he was my friend and I his account officer.
Roy did not mention any next of kin/heir when the account was opened, he Roy was not married and had no children, last week my Bank Management requested that I should give instructions on what to do about his funds, if to renew the  contract or not, I know this will happen and that is why I have been looking for a means to handle the situation because if my Bank Directors happens to know Roy is dead and do not have any heir they will declare the funds as non-renewable and confiscate the funds for their personal use, I do not want such to happen, so why when I saw your last name I was happy and now seeking your co-operation to present you as next of kin/heir to the account owner since you have the same last name with him, my bank head quarters will release the account to you based on this fact. There is no risk involved because the transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you and I from any breach of the law, it is better we claim the money than allowing the Bank Directors confiscate it, they are rich already. 
I am not a greedy person so I suggest we share the funds equal on 50/50 basis to both parties, my share will be used to start my own finance company which has been my dream. Let me know your mind on this and please do treat this information as TOP SECRET, DO NOT respond to this on Skype for same security reason. I have more to write you about details once I receive your urgent response via this very  e-mail address.
Regards,Patrick Rozan.

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