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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: "Mark Thomson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <frommark1981@yahoo.com.sg>
Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2015 10:52:40 -0700
Subject: Re: CAN YOU WORK WITH ME?

Hello Friend,
My name is Mr. Mark Thomson, i am contacting you today regarding a very good business opportunity which i know will be very rewarding for the both of us.
the information about this business is highly classified but i wish to know if you can be trusted and the information may be safe with you.
My late client Gen. Daoud Rajha the defense minister with the Syrian present government administration who died few year back has some unfinished business here in London before his death which i am directly involved in and i seek your consent to use you as the beneficiary of the funds involved.While my client occupied the office of the defense minister of Syria, he was also involved in some oil business with Iran, Jordan and Lebanon,
during the uprising he cancelled all his open accounts with Royal Bank of Scotland, Citibank and Barclay bank to secure the whole funds in a fixed deposit account with the HSBC bank prior to my suggestion. The total amount is worth US$5.3 Million.The bank therefore mandated me to present to their office the rightful next of kin to claim this money with the authorized and empowering documents.
Based on this situation, i contact you today to work with you so we can claim this money.
Kindly get back to me if you are interested and i will give you more information regarding the processes involved and how we can claim this money.
also there is no risk involved i also have the document to cover this cliam.
Best regards,
Mr. Mark Thomson

Anti-fraud resources: