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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: PETER JOHN <drjohnpetergoodlucks@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 26 Mar 2023 07:28:37 -0700
Subject: Hello Dear ,

--
Hello Dear ,

I have been in search of someone so when I saw your name I was pushed to
contact you and see how best we can assist each other. I am PETER
JOHN a banker by profession working in Emirates NBD Bank in Dubai, United
Arab Emirates (U.A.E). I believe it is the wish of God for me to come
across you now. I am having an important business discussion I wish to
share with you which I believe will interest you, it is in connection with
your last name and you are going to benefit from it. One Late Mehmet, a
citizen of your country, had a fixed deposit with my bank in 2012 for 36
calendar months, valued at US $8,400,000.00 (Eight Million,four Hundred
Thousand US Dollars,Only) the due date for this deposit contract was the
16th of March 2015. Sadly Mehmet was among the death victims in the May 26
2014 air crash disaster in Iraq that killed over 200 people. He was in
Iraq on a business trip and that was how he met his end.My bank management
is yet to know about his death, I knew about it because he was my friend
and I am his account officer.

Mehmet did not mention any Next of Kin/ Heir when the account was opened,
and he Mehmet was not married and had no children.Last week my Bank
Management requested that I should give instructions on what to do about
his funds, if to renew the contract. I know this will happen and that is
why I have been looking for a means to handle the situation, because if my
Bank Directors happen to know that Mehmet is dead and do not have any Heir,
they will take the funds for their personal use, so I don't want such to
happen.

That is why when I saw your last name I was happy and I am now seeking your
co-operation to present you as Next of Kin/ Heir to the account, since you
have the same last name with him and my bank head quarters will release the
account to you. There is no risk involved; the transaction will be
executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you and I from
any breach of law. It is better that we claim the money, than allowing the
Bank Directors to take it, they are rich already. I am not a greedy
person, so I am suggesting we share the funds equal, 50/50% to both
parties, my share will assist me to start my own company which has been my
dream. Let me know what you think and please do treat this information as
TOP SECRET.

Best Regards.

PETER JOHN.

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