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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: "George Classe" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <george.classe@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 19 Mar 2011 08:27:03 +0800
Subject: DEAR FRIEND

How are you ? I am contacting you regarding the funds of a deceased client with an investment of (Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand Pounds Sterling ) placed under our company management 8 years ago.
 
I would respectfully request that you keep the contents of this mail confidential and respect the integrity of the information you come by as a result of this mail. I am contacting you independently and no one is informed of this communication.
 
What I propose is that since I have exclusive access to his file and he has no next of kin an. However, you will be made the next of kin to these funds. On verification, which will be the details I make available to my company, the funds will be released to you.
 
You do not have to have known him but as long as you live abroad makes you have an advantage. I know this might be a bit heavy for you but please trust me on this. For all your troubles I propose that we split the money in half 50/50. In the banking circle this happens every time. The other option is that the money will revert back to the state.
 
Nobody is getting hurt; this is a lifetime opportunity for us. I hold the KEY to these funds, and as a British National we see so much cash and funds being reverted to the government. I would want us to keep communication for now strictly by email.
 
If we can be of one accord, we should act swiftly on this.
 
Please get back to me immediately.
if you are interested contact me in this email
thia is my personal email idd. george.classe@yahoo.com
I await your response.
George Classe
Operational Manager
Venture finance company

Anti-fraud resources: