joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: louischinedu44@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 09 Jul 2016 02:31:40 +0800
Subject: Re

Hallo

I have been in search of someone who can be trusted so when I saw you I decide to contact you believing that you will not betray me. My name is Daniel osei,procurement Assistant at African development Bank Accra Ghana.

One Mr. Curtis, a citizen of your country had a contract with the bank I work with $17,500,000.00(Seventeen Million,Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars) Sadly Curtis was among the death victim in 12 May 2OO8, Earthquake disaster in China That killed 6,000 people.

My bank management is yet to know about his death, I know it because he was my friend and I am his Account Officer, Curtis did not mention any kin heir when the account was opened, was not married and have no children. Last two weeks my bank requested that he must give instruction on what to do with his funds, or otherwise we renew the contract.

So that was why I have been looking for a means to handle the situation because if my bank Directors happen to know that Curtis is dead and do not have nobody to claim the money, they will take the funds for their personal use, which I don't want such to happen and that was why I am seeking your co-operation to present you as the kin / heir to the account.

There is no risk involved; the transaction will protect both of us from any law. It is better we claim the money than allowing the bank Directors take it, because they are rich already. I am not a greedy person, so I am suggesting we share the funds 50/50 % equal.

Let me know your mind on this and please do treat this information highly confidential for our own good.

Thanks.
Daniel

Anti-fraud resources: