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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. David Morris" <mrdavidmorrow44@gmail.com>
Reply-To: davidmorris67.uk@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 27 Aug 2017 06:12:37 -0700
Subject: Urgent Attention


Dear Friend,

I sincerely ask for forgiveness, for I know this may seem like a complete
intrusion to your privacy but right now this is my option of
communication. This mail might come to you as a surprise and the
temptation to ignore it as unserious could come into your mind; but please
consider it a divine wish and accept it with a deep sense of humility. I am
aware that this is certainly an unconventional approach to starting a
business relationship, but I believe knowing each other starts from a step
of which I believe I am not making a mistake exposing this very important
business deal to you? it's my urgent need for a foreign partner that has
caused me to contact you. I apologized if you find this intrusive, but
there is an opportunity for both of us to work together and make clean
money that is left over for nobody to claim.

Firstly, let me start by identifying myself. My name is Mr. David Morris.
I am the regional manager in Bank of Scotland. I am writing to solicit your
assistance in the transfer of Ten million seven hundred fifty thousand
POUNDS (£10,750.000.00). This fund is the excess of what my branch of which
I am the manager made as profit during the last three years. I have already
submitted an approved End of the Year report to my Head Office here in
LONDON and they will never know of this Excess. I have since then, placed
this amount of (£10,750.000.00) On a SUSPENSE ACCOUNT without a beneficiary.

The funds is floating and if I don't remit this money out urgently it will
be forfeited for nothing and government of United Kingdom will confiscate
the funds for their personal use which I personally don’t want such
incident to happen being that this is a great opportunity for me and you to
claim the money. I must solicit your strictest confidence in this
transaction. This is by virtue of its nature as being utterly confidential.
I am sure and have confidence of your ability and reliability to prosecute
a transaction of this great magnitude. I solicit your assistance to enable
our bank transfer the said amount into your safe account for onward
investment in your country.

As an officer of the bank, I cannot be directly connected to this money
thus I am impelled to request for your assistance to receive this money
into your bank account. I intend to give 40% of this fund to you while 60%
shall be for me. I do need to stress that there are practically no risk
involved in this. It is going to be a bank-to-bank transfer to your
nominated bank account anywhere of your choice. All I need from you is to
stand as the beneficiary of this fund by sending your account details for
the immediate transfer of the fund to the account.

If you accept this offer, I will appreciate your timely response so that we
can proceed with the transfer immediately.

Regards,
David Morris.

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