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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: john thomas <johnthomasat1@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 25 May 2015 07:15:44 -0700
Subject: RE BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

African Development Bank Group
commerce International d’Abidjan CCIA
01 BP 1387
Abidjan 01, Côte d'Ivoire

Dear sir or madam

I am Dr John Thomas , And I work with one of the TOP African
Development Bank in their Offshore Department herein Kenya. I
discovered a dormant domiciliary account with a Balance Of ( One
Hundred and Thirty Two Million British Pounds sterling). 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 A/c. because the former operator of the a/c is
a foreigner and from Korea, 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 in order to claim this money,
but you will need to open an account where this can be transferred. If
you are interested send your private phone and fax no; including the
details of the account to be used for the deposit I want for maximum
confidentiality in handling of this transaction, as my work and my
family future would not be in danger if it violated.

While steps have been made on this issue confidentially with the key
personnel,s of the Bank? and they have agreed to help if I found
honest and capable person to handle this transaction so we can
transfer the assets value out of Abidjan, Cote d Ivoire.

I want to assure you that the operation is without risk, if due
process is followed as a result. Finally, I will give you 35% for your
corporation.

I look forward to a favorable response from you.

Yours,

Dr John Thomas



African Development Bank Group

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