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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. Thoftne" <ftpuser@mu-ge-n.jp>
Reply-To: thoftneadams@yahoo.com
Date: Sun, 02 Apr 2017 14:47:38 -0700
Subject: VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE


Good day to you.
I am the remittance Director of Emirates NBD Bank my Names are Mr. Thoftn=
e Adams, a Bank Officer in U.A.E. I believe it is the wish of God for me to=
come across you now. I have been in search of someone who I want to work t=
ogether with so when I came across your email, I was pushed to contact you =
and see how best we can assist each other. I have an important business dis=
cussion I wish to share with you which I believe will interest you, because=
it is in connection with a transfer and I know you are going to benefit fr=
om it because this has to do with your LAST NAME. A citizen of the United S=
tates baring same last name with you had a fixed deposit with my bank in 20=
05 for 108 calendar months, valued at US$30,000,000.00 (Thirty Million Unit=
ed States Dollars) the due date for this deposit contract was last 22nd of =
January 2015. Sadly the beneficiary was among the dead victims in a plane c=
rash Flydubai Flight 981 in March 19, 2016 He was in on a business trip to =
Russia and that was how he met his end. You can verify me and the accident:=
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Flydubai_Flight_981 My bank management is y=
et to know about his death, I knew about it because he was my friend and I =
am his account officer. Interestingly he did not mention any Next of Kin/ H=
eir when the account was opened, And he was not married and had no children=
. Last week my Bank Management requested that he should give instructions o=
n what to do about his funds, if to renew the contract. I knew this would h=
appen and that is why I have been looking for a means to handle the situati=
on, because if my Bank Directors happen to know that he is dead and do not =
have any Heir, they will take the funds for their personal use. so I dont w=
ant such to happen. I am now seeking your co-operation to present you as Ne=
xt of Kin/ Heir to the account, and my bank headquarters will release the a=
ccount to you. There is no risk involved; the transaction will be executed =
under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any branch of law=
. It is better that we claim the money, than allowing the Bank Directors to=
take it. They are rich already. I am not a greedy person, so I am suggesti=
ng we share the funds equal, 50/50% to both parties, my share will assist m=
e to start my own company which has been my dream. Let me know your mind on=
this and please do treat this information as TOP SECRET. We shall go over =
the details once I receive your urgent response on my private email thoftne=
adams@yahoo.com Anticipating your communication . Regards, Thoftne Adams.

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