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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: James Morris <mjames21111@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: j.morris111@outlook.com
Date: Mon, 11 May 2015 23:51:48 +0100
Subject: From UBS AG

UBS AG
24, QUAI DU SEUJET GENEVA - CH 1211
SWITZERLAND.
SWIFT/BIC: EFGBCHGGXXX
Web site: www.ubs.com

Hello Friend,

I'm an Investment Consultant working with Bank UBS AG Geneva at their EFG Bank European Financial Group Geneva Switzerland. I will be happy to work this deal out with you if you have a corporate or personal Bank Account and if you are capable to keep TOP SECRET. I need strong Assurance that you will never let me down, if I transfer this money to your account. During one of our periodic auditing I discover a dormant account with holding balance of US$ 36,000.000.00 {Thirty Six million US Dollars only} Sometimes a person will open a bank account, deposit money, and then disappear into the thin air. Banks are not always able to find out what has become of these silent customers, or to know whether they should follow up on requests from people who claim to be heirs to the accounts. The main problem is that the customer resides broad and, due to bank secrecy, the bank can not publish notices in the international press to locate the depositories. These
accounts have not been operated for the past ten years. As at this moment, I’m constrained to issue more details about this business until your response is received. If you know that you are capable to handle large or small amount on trust and can keep secret and ready to take 40% of any amount I transfer to your account from the dormant account and I will take 60%. Then I look forward hearing from you as soon as possible if you are interested, send me the information stated below.

Your full Name...
Your Telephone& Fax No:


Thank you for your time and attention.

Warmest Regards,
James Morris

Anti-fraud resources: