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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: "Elena Balabanov" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <balabanovelena@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 21 May 2016 20:33:27 +0300
Subject: IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR YOU

Dear,


I crave your indulgence to kindly read and digest this mail in good faith. I do not mean any disrespect by approaching you through this medium; considering the nature and confidentiality required for an offer of this magnitude but i have less option considering the urgency of the situation at hand.


My Name is Elena Balabanov, I work with a Russian bank. In my Bank, there is this particular account i have been managing over some years before the customer untimely death in 2010 and after these years that account have gone dormant. We have tried to reach any of his relative to no avail.


As the account officer to the deceased client, i was recently notified by the management of the Bank of a final search grace period which expires at the end of this year, to consider any calm request as next of kin to that account. Within this period if no positive claim is received, the account will be closed and all the funds retained as bank equity.

The situation at hand presents an ample opportunity for and me and a trusted person who can fit-intto such profile as a next of kin to the deceased client. This is where you come-in. I was prompted to look for anybody from his country that bears the same last name with him who will apply to my bank as his relative and claim the fund, after which we will share the fund 60-40.The deceased customer is from your country and has the same last name with you.


Please If you are interested do get back to me for more details, do include your private number for more details.


Waiting your response


Best Regards


Ms. Elena Balabanov

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