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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: "Mr.Bruce Almond" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <brucealmondmr@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 00:16:15 +0100
Subject: CAN YOU HANDLE THIS DEAL

The Desk Of,
Mr. Bruce Almond,
Fund Manager,
Fidelity International, UK .
+44 7045703892

I feel quite safe dealing with you in this important business.Though, this
medium (Internet) has been greatly abused, I choose to reach you through it
because it still remains the fastest medium of communication.
Do accept my sincere apologies if my mail does not meet your personal ethics.I
knew that this mail will come to you as a surprise, but please do not be
discouraged with my proposal, it was due to how things are moving with me, then
i decided to write to you when I saw your contact information in a directory.
However, this correspondence is unofficial and private, and it should be treated
as such.At first I will like to assure you that this transaction is 100% risk
and trouble free to both parties
My name is Mr. Bruce Almond, a Fund Manager with Fidelity Investment, UK. I
handle all our Investors Capital Project Funds which enabled me to divert 1.2%
of Investors Excess Return Capital Funds to our Magellan Trust Funds Account
where anyone can be presented to claim the funds.
Total sum of Fifteen Million, Seven Hundred and Forty Five Thousand British
Pounds (15.745.000)GBP has been diverted, representing 1.2% of Excess Return
Capital Funds from the Investor Capital Project Funds for 2006/2007 fiscal year.
I need a reliable and trustworthy person with whom I can work this deal out so
that we can claim the funds as mentioned above.
There is no risk attached and the funds in question can never be dictated or
traced.

Sincerely,
Mr. Bruce Almond

Anti-fraud resources: