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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: John Christopher <g18131474@gmail.com>
Reply-To: johnch1963@outlook.com
Date: Tue, 18 May 2021 07:24:26 -0600
Subject: Get back to me.

--
Dear confidant,

My name is Mr John Christopher, I have a transaction of $ 16,000,000.00
only. I realized this fund from bank excess profit after trading with the
capital sum and I deposited the funds in an escrow call account. I did not
declare these funds to the bank before my medical retirement. As a former
staff of the sc bank, I cannot be directly connected to this money, this is
why I am requesting your assistance to present you as the beneficiary and
owner of these funds so that you will request for the account to be closed
and the money wired to you in your country, and as soon as it is
transferred and confirmed in your bank account, it will be shared between
us, 55% for me and 45% for you for your help and participation.

I assure you that you have absolutely nothing to lose in this, it is a
bank-to-bank wire transfer, and can be completed within 7 days, and will
take place at the bank head office the International Remittance Department
where all the international transfers are being carried out. As soon as the
money is transferred, I will come to your country for the sharing as we
have both mutually agreed. I plan to relocate completely to your country
right after this. All I need from you is your total trust and sincerity to
work with me and the money will be transferred to your account as soon as
you request the transfer from the bank, don't worry I will be guiding you
all the way through the process.

I am open to doing this with you if you are serious, trustworthy, and can
keep things in confidence.

I await your swift response.

Sincerely,
Mr John Christopher.

Anti-fraud resources: