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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: "Mr. Ignazio Visco. Governor of Banca D' Italia" <mrignaziovisco@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 2 Dec 2021 06:46:56 +0100
Subject: RE

From: Mr. Ignazio Visco (Governor)
Banca D' Italia
Via Cordusio 5-20123, Mailano, Italy,

Date: 02/12/2021

Hello Sir/Ma,

This letter is written to you in a good faith and I got your contact
details from Italia Chamber of Commerce & Industries Foreign Trade
Department on the cost of my research for a foreign partner who can
assist me for urgent and confidential business Relationship.

Recently, I came across a very huge sum of money belonging to a
deceased person (Christian Eich). He is foreigner, unfortunately He is
now late as he was amongst those that were killed in the plane crash
during his visit to London as you can confirm through this website
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm

This man was our client and he has a Fixed Deposit €1,200,000.00 euros
with 10% interest for 20 years now which is €2,400,000.00 plus
€1,200,000.00 making total of €3,600,000.00 euros lying unclaimed in
our custody and there is no next of kin mentioned in his file and
there is no how we can reach any of his other relatives. All efforts
made by us to establish contacts with any other of his relation have
proved abortive and unsuccessful also his fixed deposit will expire in
the next few weeks and I don’t want the funds to get confiscated by my
bank.

I am contacting you in view of the fact that the deceased customer is
a foreigner, it is officially important for the involvement of a
foreigner who will stand as the relation of this unclaimed fund, I
will use my exalted position in this Bank to arrange all the necessary
arrangement legally and without any risk to present you as the next of
kin and the fund will be safely transferred into your bank account.

I will give you more information as soon as you indicate your
willingness to assist me in this viable transaction, NOW LOOK FORWARD
TO THE PLEASURE OF YOUR KIND FAVORABLE RESPONSE.

TRULY & SINCERELY,

Mr. Ignazio Visco (Governor).

Anti-fraud resources: