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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.Donald Wood <good5@gaitanpressperu.onmicrosoft.com>
Reply-To: <dnaldwood@yandex.com>
Date: Sat, 27 Feb 2016 01:27:01 -0300
Subject: YOUR PARTNERSHIP


From: Donald Wood
United-Kingdom


Dear Friend,

My name is Donald Wood, the Auditor General of a reputable Finance House in
London United-Kingdom . In the course of my auditing, I discovered a
floating fund in an account, which was opened in 1990 belonging to a dead
foreigner who died in 1999. Every effort made to track any member of his
family or next of kin has since failed,hence I am contacting you to stand
as his next of kin since you share the same last name with him.He died
leaving no heir or a will.

My intention is to transfer the sum of Eleven Million Five Hundred Thousand
United States Dollars Only in the aforementioned account to a safe account
overseas. I am therefore proposing that you quietly partner with me and
provide an account or set up a new one that will serve the purpose of
receiving this fund.

For your assistance in this venture, I am ready to part with a good
percentage of the entire funds.

After going through the deceased person's records and files, I discovered
that:

(1) No one has operated this account since 1999
(2) He died without an heir or WILL; hence the money has been floating.
(3) No other person knows about this account and there was no known
beneficiary.

If I do not remit this money urgently, it would be forfeited and
subsequently converted to company's funds, which will benefit only the
Directors of my firm. This money can be approved to you legally as with all
the necessary documentary approvals in your name. However, you would be
required to show some proof of claim, which I will provide you with and
also guide you on how to make your applications.

Please reply so that I can send you detailed information on the modalities
of my proposition. I completely trust you to keep this proposition
absolutely confidential. Below are the information i require from you
urgently.

Your First and Last Names:
Telephone and fax numbers:
Occupation:
Your Age:

Please send the above information so I can reach you easily. I look
forward to your prompt response.

Best Regards,
Mr.Donald Wood
Auditor General
United-Kingdom

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