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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: JUDE GRAY <judithgray.un2@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2020 21:18:43 +0100
Subject:

GOOD DAY,
I am Mr.Jude Gray, Manager of Branch of a Bank
I have urgent and very confidential business
proposition for you.On June 6 2016, an American oil
consultant/contractor
with the Federal Government of NIGERIA ,
Mr.John Norman made a (Fixed) deposit for
twelve calendar months, valued at US$18,000,000.00
(Eighteen Million Dollars) in my branch. Upon
maturity, I sent a routine notification to his
forwarding address but got no reply. After a month,
we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his
contract employers, that Mr. John Norman died from
an automobile accident. On further investigation, I
found out that he did not leave a WILL and all attempts to
trace his next of kin were fruitless.
I therefore made further investigation and
discovered that Mr. John Norman did not declare any next of kin
in all his official documents, including his Bank
Deposit paperwork. This sum of US$18,000,000.00 is
still sitting in the Bank and the interest is being
rolled over with the principal sum at the end of
each year. No one will come forward to claim it.
According to the laws of NIGERIAN Republic, at the expiration
of 5 (five)years, the money will revert to the
ownership of the Government if nobody applies to claim the
funds.Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as
a foreigner to stand in as the next of kin to Mr. John
Norman so that the fruits of this old man’s labor
will not get into the hands of some corrupt officials.
This is simple, I will like you to provide me immediately
with your full names and address so that the
attorney will prepare the necessary documents and
affidavits,which will put you in place as the next
of kin. We shall employ the services of an attorney
for drafting and notarization of the WILL and obtain
the necessary documents and letter of
probate/administration in your favor for the
transfer.
A bank account in any part of the world, which you
will provide,I will then facilitate the transfer of
this money to you as the beneficiary/next of kin. The
money will be paid into your account for us to share
in the ratio of 50% for me and 50% for you.
There is no risk at all as all the paperwork for
this transaction will be done by the attorney and my
position as the Branch Manager guarantees the
successful execution of this transaction. If you
are interested, please reply immediately via the
private email address below. Upon your response, I
shall then provide you with more details and relevant
documents that will help you understand. Please
observe utmost confidentiality, and rest assured that
this transaction would be most profitable for both
of us because I shall require your assistance to invest
my share in your country.
Awaiting your urgent reply
Thanks and regards.
Mr Jude Gray

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