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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: "Kathryn Porter" <vfernandez@inameh.gob.ve>
Reply-To: kathport@falcpb.ch
Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2018 14:48:52 +1100
Subject: Hello


Hello
Though I have not considered this medium to be the best manner to have app=
roached you on this issue knowing that the Internet has been greatly abused=
over the recent years and is very unsecured for information of vital impor=
tance. I have decided to take the chance
seeing that no other means could have been faster and more efficient than t=
he E-mail.
I am Kathryn Porter, Canadian Citizen, a Staff of Falcon Private Bank,Swit=
zerland. I am contacting you concerning a deceased customer and an investme=
nt he placed under our banks management six years ago to the tune of Ninete=
en Million Euros (=20AC 19, 000, 000.00) .I would
respectfully request that you keep the contents of this mail confidential a=
nd respect the integrity of the information you come by as a result of this=
mail.
In the process of review of the financial report by my department, I disco=
vered that both of you have a similar last name; hence I contacted you so t=
hat I can give you further briefing on my intention and how to disburse the=
funds and estate he left behind. My proposal;
you share the same surname with our late client ;. I am willing to place yo=
u in a position to instruct the security Firm to release the deposit to you=
as the closest surviving relation Upon receipt of the deposit, I am also w=
illing to share the money with you in half That
is: =

I will simply nominate you as the next of kin and have them release the fun=
ds to you, We share the proceeds 50/50.. I ask that you do not destroy my c=
hance, if you will not work with me let me know and let me move on with my =
life but do not destroy me.
There is a lot of money involved in this transaction and it is a task well =
worth undertaking. =

Your prompt response will be appreciated.
Sincerely
Kathryn Porter

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