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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: "Mr. Charles Williams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrcharleswilliams2016@outlook.com>
Date: Mon, 15 Feb 2016 06:48:36 -0800
Subject: Bank of America (BOA)

Greetings!
 
My Name is Mr.Charles Williams. i work as an accountant in the marketing department of the Bank Of America here in Ohio. I write to contact you over a business transaction which is importantly urgent, yet promises to be of both our interest and our families', too.
 
In 2007, a man named Mr. Husson  Duke whose last name happens to be the same as your profile name and has your state in his account and his files as his place of origin, made a fixed deposit for 36 months, valued at $6,700,000.00 with my bank as I was his account officer at the time. The maturity date for this deposit contract was 27th of September 2010. In 2009, September.   Husson was in Indonesia for a business meeting that involved me as the account officer as well. I have never heard from him till date. It stands (with evidences) to reason that he was involved in the Indonesia earthquake in September 2009 that left over 1,200 people dead.
 
Since the last quarter of 2010 until date the management of my bank have been trying effortlessly to reach him to know if he will roll over the Deposit or have the contract sum withdrawn. When I discovered that this will happen, I have tried to think up a procedure to preserve this fund and use the proceeds for business and to pay happen, i looked for all means to keep account information secret so i could use the money for some business and to pay up my mortgage debts.
 
Some of my directors here have been suspecting that I have the information. They have devised different means to get the account information but I kept 100% closure because i know that if they find out that he is dead they will selfishly do justice to the money. Besides, nobody has showed up as next of kin and I'm in dire need of funds.
 
Therefore, I seek your co-operation now because you bear a name my bank directors search for, my headquarters will pay the funds to you. Yes!!! It’s that easy. no risks involved. I have sealed every leak. All you have to do is to put in your details into the information administration desk in the bank computer to reflect you as his next of kin. Overnight blessing!!
 
If you Agree with this proposal, I intend for you to retain 50% of the funds. the remaining 50% you will send across to me through a method chosen by me. That’s fair enough .
 
Kindly (and quickly) give me your response.
 
Mr. Charles Williams.
Bank of America (BOA).

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