joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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: geoffrey cool <geoffreycool1@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2015 00:07:41 +0100
Subject: REQUEST FOR BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP !!!!!!!!!!!!

Dear Friend ,

I write to solicit your assistance in a funds transfer deal involving
US$9.5million, believing that you will not betray me. My name is
Mr.Geoffrey Nana, a Bank officer here in GHANA. I'm making this proposal to
you in respect to the death of my customer, a foreign investor who has a
fixed deposit with my bank in 2005 for 108 calendar months, valued at
(US$9.5million ) the due date for this deposit contract was last 22nd of
January 2013. After unsuccessful attempts to locate his relations as his
Account Officer, l decided to contact you and you will benefit from it.

My bank management is yet to know about his death, I knew about it because
he was my friend ,and his Account Officer. He did not mention any Next of
Kin/ Heir when the account was opened, he was not married and no children.
Last week my Bank Management requested that He should give instructions on
what to do about his funds, if to renew the contract, 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 are a foreigner and my bank head
quarters will release the account to you. There is no risk involved; the
transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will
protect us 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.

To maintain the level of security required I have intentionally left out
the final details and I want you to come forward since I can provide you
with the necessary documents needed for you to claim the fund, so that I
can be gratify by you in this way 30% for you and 70% for me and my
colleague that will do all the crucial part in the bank to have the claim
release to you promptly. To affirm your willingness and co-operation,
please endeavor to reply with your complete names, address, private
telephone number and country to enhance effective communication and details
on the matter, and please do treat this information highly confidential.
Write me through private email address: gb95125@gmail.com for security
reasons.

Have a nice day and God bless
Mr.Geoffrey Nana

Anti-fraud resources: