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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: Mr Fred Gamba <joesmgm20@gmail.com>
Reply-To: fredgamba1@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 6 Jun 2015 17:22:34 +0000
Subject: Re:Kindly/Read/Reply.......

*Dear Friend, I decided to write you this proposal in good faith,
believing that you will not betray me.I have been in search of someone with
the same last name of our late customer and close friend of mine (
Mr.Richard ) , hence I contacted you because both of you bear the same
surname and coincidentally from the same country, and I was pushed to
contact you and see how best we can assist each other. Meanwhile I am , Mr
Fred Gamba , a reputable banker here in Accra Ghana .On the 15 March 2007,
the young millionaire ( Mr.Richard ) a citizen of your country and Crude
Oil dealer made a fixed deposit with my bank for 60 calendar months, valued
at US$6,500,000.00 (Six Million, Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars) and the
mature date for this deposit contract was on 16th of April, 2012. But sadly
he was among the death victims in the 12 May 2008, Earthquake disaster in
China that killed over 58,000 people. Because he was in China on a business
trip and that was how he met his end.My bank management is yet to know
about his death, but I knew about it because he was my friend and I am his
Account Relationship Officer, and he did not mention any Next of Kin/ Heir
when the account was opened, because he was not married and no children.
Last week my Bank Management requested that Mr.Richard 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 that
he is dead and do not have any Heir, they will take the funds for their
personal use, so I don't want such to happen. That is why I am seeking your
co-operation to present you as the Next of Kin/ Heir to the account, since
you bear same last name with the deceased customer.There is no risk
involved; the transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement
that will protect you from any breach of law. It is better that we claim
the money, than allowing the Bank Directors to take it, they are rich
already. I am not a greedy person, so I am suggesting we share the funds in
this ratio, 50/50%, i.e. equal.Let me know your mind on this and please do
treat this information highly confidential.I will reveal further
information / details to you as soon as I receive your positivereply in my
private email address (fredgamba1@gmail.com <fredgamba1@gmail.com>)Have a
nice day and I Anticipating your communication.You can contact me for
further information on this Mobile :+233247257948RegardsFred Gamba.*

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