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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: "David Hodgkins" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <dhodgkins@gmx.com>
Date: Wed, 15 Dec 2010 17:13:37 -0000
Subject: re: reply 14/12/10

Hello My Dear,

Do accept my sincere apologies if my mail does not meet your personal ethics. I am Mr David Hodgkins, the manager of a reputable bank here in London. One of our accounts with holding balance of £25,549,250.00 (Twenty five Million five Hundred and fourth nine Thousand two Hundred and fifty British Pounds). and has been dormant for over 5 years. This fund will definitely be confiscated by our BANKING CODE OF ETHICS if it remains dormant for a period of [6] year without any claims. From my investigations and confirmations, the owner of this account is a foreigner who died long time ago. Since then nobody has done anything as regards the claiming of this money as he has no family member who is aware of the existence of either the account or the funds therein. Information from the National Immigration also confirms that he was single on entry to this country, England. Infact, this account has NO BENEFICIARY attached to it. So I earnestly need your full cooperation in legitimately
and officially transferring this

HOW THE TRANSACTION CAN BE HANDLED: As a manager, all the client account details and file are in my possession and that makes it easy for me to include your name as the beneficiary of the fund in all necessary documents involving the money we wish to transfer out from our bank.

Most importantly, you will be required to:
(1). Act as the original legitimate and official beneficiary of the funds.
(2). Receive the funds into a business/private bank account anywhere in the world.
(3). At the completion of this transaction, the sharing rates shall be 65% for me while 35% for you.

I need to know if you will agree to partner with me in this business deal.
Warmest Regards,
David Hodgkins.

************************************************************
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and may contain proprietary, confidential and/or privileged information. If you
are not the intended recipient, any use, copying, disclosure, dissemination or
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please notify the sender immediately by return e-mail, delete this communication
and destroy all copies.
************************************************************

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