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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: Caroline Bourret <back-up@brazilsalt.com>
Reply-To: info@sormazgroup.com
Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2023 20:30:32 -0300
Subject: Greetings to you dearest.



--
Greetings to you dearest.


My name is Caroline Bourret; I work with the Audit department of a bank
here in my country. I need your partnership in a funds transfer process
involving an unclaimed deposit USD$360,000,000.00 (THREE HUNDRED AND
SIXTY MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY). All efforts to trace any
living relative of the deceased customer did not yield any positive
result. I can use my office to present you as a relative to the deceased
and have the funds transferred to you for our mutual benefit. There are
no risks whatsoever involved. I will personally oversee the process of
the transfer of funds from the bank to your private or business account.


My proposition is to seek your consent to present you as the heir to the
funds. Since you share similar information with my late client, the
proceeds of this account can possibly be paid to you, thereafter, and we
could share the amount 50/50 after tax and administrative expenses have
been removed. All legal documents to back up your claim as my late
client's relative will be gradually provided.


All I require is your honest and sincere cooperation to see this
transaction through. This transaction will be executed under a
legitimate arrangement that will protect you and me from any breach of
law. If this business proposition offends your moral values, please do
accept my apology. I must use this occasion to implore you to exercise
the utmost indulgence to keep this matter absolute secrecy whatever your
decision, while I await your prompt response. Please contact me at once
to indicate your interest if you are interested and more details shall
be provided.


Meanwhile, the transaction is a secret and confidential deal between the
both of us as third parties must not be involved for a successful and
perfect completion of the transaction.


Thank you for your anticipated cooperation:


Best regards,
Caroline Bourret
For: Audit department.

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