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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: "Mike Anderson" (may be fake)
Date: Sat, 7 May 2016 18:48:10 -0400
Subject: YOU GET 35% OF THE FUND


Good Day My Dear Friend,

YOU GET 35% OF THE FUND IF YOU AGREE TO WORK WITH ME.

I'm a Branch Manager with Ecobank Nigeria. It gives me the privilege to contact you in regard to the Account of one of our esteemed client who died in a plane crash incident since 3rd May 2015, shares the same Surname with you. Since the death of our late client for over a year now, no one has shown up as his next of kin to put claim to the Four Million Five Hundred and Seventy Two Thousand United State Dollars ($4,572,000.00) deposited in his Escrow Account. So it is my intention to present you as the next of kin to the Bank Management since the both of you have the same "Last Name" so that the inheritance can be released to you.

The reason I am presenting you to the Bank Management is that the Board of Directors of Eco Bank in our last meeting held 4th May 2016 is considering confiscating the Account valued at Four Million Five Hundred and Seventy Two Thousand United State Dollars ($4,572,000.00) since no one has shown up as the next of kin to the deceased. This decision is in accordance with the Bank regulations.

If you accept to be my partner by presenting you to the Bank Management as the next of kin to the deceased, I will give you 35% of the contract sum as gratification after the claim.

Complete and forward the following information back to me immediately to my private / personal email (mikeanderson.banker@gmail.com);

Full Name:
Occupation:
Direct Telephone:
Your Current Address:
Proof of Identification: Passport or Driver's License:

Thanks for your kind consideration and cooperation.

Respectfully,

Mike Anderson,
Branch Manager, Ecobank Nigeria.
mikeanderson.banker@gmail.com

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