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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: pele tanko <peletanko2@gmail.com>
Reply-To: peletanko1@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 25 Aug 2015 08:03:41 -0700
Subject:

Dear Friend.


It is indeed my pleasure to write you this mail, which I believe will
be a surprise to you as we have never met before, and I am deeply
sorry if I have in any manner disturbed your privacy. Please forgive
this unusual manner of contacting you, but this particular mail is of
exceptional and very private nature. There is absolutely going to be a
great doubt and distrust in your heart in respect of this email,
coupled with the fact that, so many individuals have taken possession
of the Internet to facilitate their nefarious deeds, thereby making it
extremely difficult for genuine and legitimate business class persons
to get attention and recognition.

My name is Dr. Pele Tanko, I am Account Manager of FINBANK, I
contacted you on a business Transfer that requires confidentiality,
Trust and transparency,where both of us have a lot to Benefit. During
our auditing Accounts section, I discovered a huge sum of money US
$5.000.000 (Five Million United State Dollars.

I contacted you to seek your consent to present you as the new
beneficiary of the fund since you are a foreigner so that the proceeds
of this account valued at US.$5 Million, can be transferred to your
account that you would provide.

I know very well that you might be weary of the fact that you are not
in any way related to the real owner of the fund but according to the
laws, anybody can be presented as beneficiary no matter the distance
or country as far as we will have to secure some legal documentations
that will cover you and back you up, having taken note of this laws I
have decided to present you to my bank as the beneficiary of the fund.

Finally, I have made an arrangement with an attorney who will work on
your behalf and secure all the necessary legal documentation that
would indicate you as the Beneficiary of the fund to back up this
claim, and this I must do to make sure that this fund is not wasted or
end up in the wrong hands. All I require is your honest co-operation
to enable us see this deal through and secures all the legal
documents. I guarantee you that this transaction will be executed
under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you and I from any
breach of the law.

If you are interested in this deal, kindly get back to me as soon as possible.

I anticipating your quick response for more details

Best regards,
Dr. Pele Tanko

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