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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: "Mr. Donald Montgomery" <akiakiaki1348@mopera.net>
Reply-To: donald10montgomery@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2015 16:59:19 +0800
Subject: I await your prompt response immediately you receive this
e-mail.

Good day,

It is with trust and confidence that i write to you, I am Mr. Donald
Montgomery, Manager Asset Management Department for the Pacific Continental
Bank in Washington DC USA. I am getting in touch with you regarding the
estate of a deceased client with similar last name and an investment placed
under our bank management many years ago. I would respectfully request that
you keep the contents of this letter confidential and respect the integrity
of the information you come by as a result of this confidential letter. I
contact you independently and no one is informed of this communication. In
the year 2000, Mr. Thomas came to our bank to engage in business discussions
with our private banking division.

He informed us that he had a financial portfolio of $12.350 million
(Twelve Million Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand United States dollars) which
he wished to have us invest on his behalf. Based on my advice, we spun the
money around various opportunities and made attractive margins for our first
months of operation, the accrued profit and interest stood at this point at
over $1.8 million United States Dollars. In mid 2002, he instructed that the
principal sum ($12.350M) be liquidated because he needed to make an urgent
investment requiring cash payments in London. We got in touch with a specialist
bank, Deutsche Bank Trust and Finance AG, UK, who agreed to receive this money
for a fee and make cash available to him. However Deutsche Bank Trust and
Finance AG, UK got in touch with us last year that this money has not been
claimed.

On further enquiries we found out that he was involved in an accident in North
London, which means he died intestate. He has no next of kin and the reason I
am writing you is because you are namesakes (you both have the same last name).
What I propose is that since I have exclusive access to his file, you will be
made the beneficiary of these inheritance funds. My bank will contact you
informing you that money has been willed to you. On verification, which will be
the details I make available to my bank, my bank will instruct Deutsche Bank
Trust and Finance AG, UK to make payments to you. You do not have to known him.
I know this might be a bit heavy for you but please trust me on this. For all
your troubles I propose that we split the money in half. In the banking circle
this happens every time. The other option is that the money will revert back to
the state coffers if we don't act fast and claim it first.

Nobody is getting hurt; this is a lifetime opportunity for us. I hold the KEY to
these funds, and as an American we see so much cash and funds being re-assigned
daily. I would want us to keep communication for now strictly confidential by
the above Email and or Telephone. Please, again, note I am a family man; I have a
wife and children. I send you this mail not without a measure of fear as to the
consequences, but I know within me that nothing ventured is nothing gained and
that success and riches never come easy or on a platter of gold. This is one truth
I have learned from my private banking clients. Do not betray my confidence. If we
can be of one goal, we should act swiftly on this. Please get back to me
immediately via the telephone or email address and let me know if you intend to
assist or not. If you also do not want to be involved kindly let me know so I
would sever further communication with you.

Thank you in anticipation to your response.

Regards,
Donald Montgomery.

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