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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: "Ken Farrugia" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ken.farrugia07@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 3 Sep 2019 05:20:06 -0700
Subject: Japanese Deposit.

Greetings from Malta,
 
This is in regards to my previous email message you didn’t receive, kindly accept my apology for sending you email without your consent. I believe you are a highly respected personality, considering the fact that I sourced your email contact from the peoples search database on the web during my descry search for a competent foreign partner whom can assist me in executing this project successfully. Although, I do not know to what extent you are familiar with events, I have a discreet proposal for you. This, however is not mandatory nor will I in any manner compel you to honor against your will, but I hope you will read on and consider my offer.
 
I'm Mr. Kenneth Farrugia, Chief Business Development Officer, Bank of Valletta Plc, BOV Centre Canon Road, St. Venera SVR 9030, Malta. Before the death of our prominent Japanese Customer/Businessman on 10th April, 2014, he made a numbered fixed deposit in our bank on 17th February, 2014 for 24 calendar months with a value of US$18,000,000.00 (Eighteen Million US Dollars Only). After his death, my bank discovered that our late Customer did not declare any close relative of his official documents including the paper work of his fixed deposit. I was his personal relationship banker for years, and he did confide in me the last time he was at my office that no one knew of this deposit in my bank. So, US$18,000,000.00 including accrued interest is still lying in my bank, and no one will ever come forward to claim it. What bothers me most is that according to the laws of Malta, if the deposit account remain inactive for the next six months, and, no existing  c lose relative shows up, t
 
Against this backdrop, my suggestion to you is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand as the close relative/beneficiary of our late, so that you will be able to claim the funds in question, and invest same in your region.
 
WHAT IS TO BE DONE:
 
I want you to know that I have had everything planned out carefully so that we shall come out successful. I have contacted a Will & Probate Attorney that will prepare the necessary legal documents that will back you up a close relative of our late Japanese Customer since you both share thesame late name. All that is required from you is to furnish me with valid data so that my hired attorney will also file in for claims on your behalf and secure the necessary approval and letter of probate in your favor for the move of the entire funds to a suitable finance company or numbered account that will be opened by you.
 
There is no risk involved at all in this matter as we are going to adopt a legalized method and the attorney will prepare all necessary legal documents that would empower you as the rightful heir to receive the funds in your names. Please endeavor to observe utmost discretion in all matters concerning this project. Once the funds have been re-profiled and transferred to your designated bank account, we shall share in the ratio of 70% for me and 30% for you. Should you be interested, please send me the following information below:
 
Full Names:
Current Residential Address/ Country of Origin's:
Mobile/Tel:
 
 
Kind Regards,
Kenneth Farrugia. 

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