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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.Russell Bennett" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <russellbennett002@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 11 Dec 2016 09:39:22 -0000
Subject: RE: Read And Reply

Hello My Dear
 
My name is Mr.Russell Bennett, I am the Head of Investment Department in a Bank here in London - United Kingdom. I am writing this letter to you because of my late Customer who has the same last name with you,  I have been in search of someone with this last name so when I saw your name I was propelled to contact you for this opportunity and hope we can work together.
 
My late Customer , has  a fixed deposit with my bank in 2009 for 36 calendar months, valued at (Seven Million Two Hundred Thousand British Pounds) the due date for this deposit contract was in November 2012. Sadly " my late Customer was among the death victims in the march 11th 2011 Earthquake disaster in Japan, He was in Japan on a business trip when the Earthquake happened.
 
My bank management is yet to know about his death, I knew about it because I am his account officer. My Late Customer did not mention any beneficiary in the fixed deposit agreement he had with the bank, and he never told me anything about his family. All I know about him is that he lived here in United Kingdom for many years during which he was a Gold Merchant, he was buying and selling in different countries. Last week my Bank Management requested that I should give instructions on what to do about his funds, if to renew the contract.
 
I know this will happen and that is why I have been looking for a means to handle the situation, because if my Bank Directors happens to know my Late Customers  dead and do not have any beneficiary to the funds, they will take the funds for their personal use, so I don't want such to happen. That was why when I saw your last name I was happy and I am now seeking your co-operation to present you as beneficiary to the account, since you have the same last name with him and our bank headquarters will approve the transfer of the funds in your name because your last name is the only thing that qualifies you to stand as the beneficiary.
 
There is no risk involved because I am equally part of this process therefore you can be assured that this process will be a success for us.
 
Send me below info:
 
Full Name:
Full Address:
Phone No:
Occupation:
 
I wait for your prompt response.
 
My regards,
 
Mr. Russell Bennett

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