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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Green" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <alan00green41@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 21 Aug 2013 16:14:38 -0400
Subject: Read carefully and reply if you are interested

Dear Sir,
My name is Mr. Alan Green and I am the Asset & Monetary Security Officer, International Finance Corporation. We are conducting a standard process investigation on
 
behalf of the International Banking Conglomerate.
This investigation involves a client who shares the same surname with you and also the circumstances surrounding investments made by this client at "IFC Group", the
 
Private Banking arm of International Finance Corporation. The client died in testate and nominated no successor in title over the investments made with the bank. I
 
would respectfully request that you keep the contents of this mail private and respect the integrity of the information you come by as a result of this mail.
I would like to intimate you with certain facts that I believe would be of interest to you. You share similar details to the late fellow and for that reason I am
 
seeking your consent to present you as the next of kin and have them release the deposit to you. We share the proceeds 50/50.
If my offer is of no appeal to you, delete this message and forget I ever contacted you. Do not destroy my career because you do not approve of my proposal. I ask that
 
you do not destroy my chance, if you will not work with me let me know and let me move on with my life but do not try to destroy me because I have evaluated the risks
 
and the only risk I have here is from you refusing to work with me. I am the only one who knows of this situation and now you are second.
I sent you this mail knowing fully well what the consequences of my actions and not without a measure of fear, but I know within me that nothing ventured is nothing
 
gained and that success and riches never come easy or on a platter of gold. You have to work real hard and sometimes take chances as they come. This could be a
 
Christmas and retirement bonus for us both though it depends on your decision.and if you are interested kindly reply to this email(alan00green41@yahoo.com)
Yours Faithfully,
Mr. Alan Green
Asset & Monetary Security Representative Europe
International Finance Corporation

Anti-fraud resources: