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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: Adam Cobb <adamcobb1960@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2018 03:55:24 -0700
Subject: Business Proposition, Very Confidential

Good day to you, I guess this might sound strange to you receiving an
email from on unknown person. My name is Mr. Adam Cobb. I am a banker
I write to contact you for a very important and confidential business
transaction which I believe will benefit both of us after completion.
I am contacting you after a careful thought that you might be capable
of handling this top business transaction which i am revealing to you
now.

In 2014, A customer, an international businessman made a fixed deposit
for 36 months, valued at US$12.5 Million with my bank. I was his
account officer. The maturity date for this deposit contract was 16th
of September 2017. A month before and after maturity date, a reminder
was sent to the customer to ascertain if he will roll over the deposit
or have the contract sum withdrawn but no response. On the 27th of
December 2017, another message was sent all to no avail. Finally on
the 24th of january,2018 the news of his death came to limelight.

The said customer died with his entire family in a plane crash on the
31st of december, 2017 off the coast of Australia. My reason for
contacting you is because the deposit document which the bank have,
has no beneficiary or next of kin in it which prompted my contacting
you.

Therefore, I am seeking your co-operation to present you as his
business partner and he beneficiary of the fund since no one was named
as the next of kin or the beneficiary. If you are interested and
willing to handle this deal, I intend that you retain 50% of the funds
while 50% shall be for me. Both of us will then take care of any
expenses that might come up at the course of the transfer. Please
keep this proposal as a top secret or delete it if you are not
interested at all. I look forward to hearing from you.

Best Regards,

Adam Cobbb

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