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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: "TONY MOORE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <tonymoore404@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Tue, 22 Feb 2011 15:47:22 +0100
Subject: BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY?

MR TONY MOORE,
EXCHANGE FOREIGN REMITTANCE
DEPARTMENT, 
UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC,
UNION BANK MARINA BRANCH.
 
 
HEIIO MY DEAR FRIEND,
 
                                                       STRICTLLY A PRIVATE BUSINESS PROPOSAL 
 
I AM TONY MOORE, THE MANAGER, BILLS AND EXCHANGE AT THE FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT OF THE UNION BANK OF NIGERA PLC. I AM WRITING THIS LETTER TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND COOPERATION TO CARRY OUT THIS BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY IN MY DEPARTMENT.
 
WE DISCOVERED AN ABANDONED SUM OF $15,000.000.00 (FIFTEEN MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY) IN AN ACCOUNT THAT BELONGS TO DR.GEORGE BRUMLEY JR, OUR FOREIGN CUSTOMERS WHO DIED ALONG WITH HIS ENTIRE FAMILY OF A WIFE AND THEIR TWO CHILDREN ON THE 19TH OF JULY 2003 IN A PLANE CRASH IN NAIROBI KENYA.
 
SINCE WE HARD OF HIS DEATH, WE HAVE BEEN EXPECTING.HIS NEXT-OF-KIN TO COME OVER AND PUT CLAIMS FOR HIS MONEY AS THE HEIR, BECAUSE WE CANNOT RELEASE THE FUND FROM HIS ACCOUNT UNLESS SOMEONE APPLIES FOR CLAIM AS THE NEXT OF-KIN TO THE DECEASED AS INDICATED IN OUR BANKING GUIDELINES.
 
UNFORTUNATELY, NEITHER THEIR FAMILY MEMBER NOR DISTANT RELATIVE HAS EVER APPEARED TO CLAIM THE SAID FUND.
 
                         THIS IS THE WEB SITE OF THIS TRAGUCK ON THAT FAITHFUL DAY .
 
                     http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/07/20/kenya.crash/index.html
 
 
UPON THIS DISCOVERY, I AGREED TO CARRY OUT THIS TRANSACTION WITH YOU AND RELEASE THE TOTAL AMOUNT INTO YOUR ACCOUNT AS THE HEIR OF THE FUND SINCE NO ONE CAME FOR IT OR DISCOVERED THE MAINTAINED ACCOUNT WITH OUR BANK, OTHER WISE THE FUND WILL BE RETURNED TO THE BANKS TREASURY AS UNCLAIMED FUND. I AGREED THAT OUR RATIO OF SHARING WILL BE AS STATED THUS: 40% FOR YOU AS FOREIGN PARTNER,50% FOR ME  AND 10% FOR THE SETTLEMENT OF ALL LOCAL AND FOREIGN EXPENSES INCURRED BY US AND YOU DURING THE COURSE OF THIS TRANSACTION.UPON THE SUCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THIS TRANSFER, I WILL COME TO YOUR COUNTRY FOR PROPER DISBURSMENT OF FUNDS. IT IS FROM MY 50% I INTEND TO IMPORT AGRICULTURAL MACHINERIES INTO MY COUNTRY AS A WAY OF RECYCLING THE FUND.
 
TO COMMENCE THIS TRANSACTION, WE REQUIRE YOU TO IMMEDIATELY INDICATE YOUR INTEREST BY A RETURN E- MAIL AND ENCLOSE YOUR PRIVATE CONTACT TELEPHONE NUMBER, FAX NUMBER FULL NAME AND ADDRESS AND YOUR DESIGNATED BANK COORDINATES TO ENABLE US FILE LETTER OF CLAIM TO THE APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENTS FOR NECESSARY APPROVALS BEFORE THE TRANSFER CAN BE MADE.
 
NOTE ALSO, THIS TRANSACTION MUST BE KEPT STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL BECAUSE OF ITS NATURE.
 
I LOOK FORWARD TO RECEIVING YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE.
 
YOURS SINCERELY
 
MR TONY MOORE

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