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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: Garry Heller <garryheller1123@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 8 May 2016 14:22:31 -0700
Subject: Re: Your prompt response will be highly appreciated


Hello Sir/Ma,

How are you doing today? How is Family and Work there. Permit
me to introduce myself,My name is Mr Garry Heller, 50yrs and married , I
work as an external auditor for Royal bank of Scotland ...My department
covers the entire Scotland,Wales and England.

I have sourced your contact through personal research. I would respectfully
request that you keep the contents of this mail confidential and respect
the integrity of the information you may come by as a result of it.

On a routine audit check last month,My Department discovered an investment
account that has been dormant for the last Fifteen (15)years with funds
totaling a little above (£7,500,000.00) Seven Million Five Hundred Thousand
UK Pounds belonging to a late client who bears same last name with you .

My investigations of the said account reveals that the customer died in
1999,the exact time the account was last operated, I can confirm with
certainty that the said investor died interstate and no relative has been
found or come forward all these years as the next of kin.

My proposal is i am prepared to place you in a position to give instruction
for the release of the deposit to you as the deceased closest surviving
next of kin .Your
reward will be 40% of the total funds less any expenses if you accept to
partner with me .I want you to understand it is only an outsider to the
banking world who
finds the internal politics of the financial world aberrational.

I can guarantee that this transaction will be processed under a legitimate
arrangement that will protect us without breaching any law .

For me to get to work i need you to provide :
(1) Full Name; (2) Telephone,Fax and Mobile Numbers; (3) Postal Address:
(4) A Copy Of Your I.D..

This is exactly why I crave your participation and co-operation.

Sincerely,
Mr Garry Heller

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