joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
 Free trial for 30 days
   jwSpamSpy
Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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.Williams Robinson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <abbeynationalbankplc01@rediffmail.com>
Date: Fri, 26 Mar 2010 20:43:12 -0700
Subject: ABBEY NATIONAL BANK PLC

Attn Customer,

Definitely, I know that this letter will be a surprising one to you. Firstly, I will like to introduce myself formally to you I am Mr.Williams Robinson, the Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director Abbey National Bank Plc. (A.N.B) London.

You are being officially contacted in connection with your funds, which were re-deposited into the Federal Suspense Account of ANB a few months ago, due to your failure to claim the funds in our corresponding bank, as you were ealeir directed. However, this morning at about 9:00 GMT my Secretary alerted me that some 3 men and a Lady were at my Office reception to see me. To my surprise they were two Canadians and one London Attorney, and they introduced themselves as (Mr. Tim Parker, Mr. Roland Gulf, both Canadians ), and a Londo Attorney with the name barrister Justin McDuffy and one Ms. Rosalyn Drew. In my discussion with them they informed me that they were here under your instruction to claim your Inheritance Bill Sum on your behalf.

At this development I asked them who authorized them to come down to London for the Collection of this Payment and they told me that you asked them to come and collect this funds on your Behalf. Infect this was the biggest shock that this Bank have ever received so far This bank is shocked by your authorization to these men without this bank's notice because your funds is presently still in the custody of the Federal Suspense Account of Abbey Bank. The Bank do not understand why and if you actually sent these men Collect your Funds on your behalf. But one thing is certain, we cannot release the funds to them without a written reconfirmation from you. At the moment, I told the men to come back in after 3 days in order to clarify with you. Due to the nature of my job, I would not want to make any mistakes or bear liability in releasing these funds to anyone except you who is the bonafide beneficiary to these Funds.

Kindly clarify to us on this issue before we make this Payment to these people on your behalf. You are required to get back to me immediately to enable us know how to handle the situation when the people come back.


Waiting for your prompt revert.


Mr.Williams Robinson
Chief Financial Officer/ Executive Director

Anti-fraud resources: