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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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Fraud email example:

From: "tom deswaan" <tomdeswaan@msn.com>
Reply-To: ttomdeswaan_04@yahoo.it
Date: Sun, 17 Jul 2005 18:48:09 +0000
Subject: BETTER DAYS!!!

FROM THE DESK OF TOM DE SWAAN
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
ABN AMRO BANK NETHERLANDS.
PRIVATE EMAIL:tomdeswaan_04@yahoo.it

RE: TRUSTING YOU IN ACTUALIZING THIS GOAL


Dear Beloved Friend,

Let me start by introducing myself to you, I am Tom De Swaan, Chief

Financial Officer, ABN AMRO BANK. I saw your contact during my private

search in the internet and I want to believe that you will be very

honest, committed and capable of assisting in this business venture.

Firstly, let me explain the source of this funds and what you are

expected to do. A foreigner LATE DR. GERALD A. SOFFEN was an astronomer

and had a functional account with the ABN AMRO BANK NETHERLANDS until

his death some years ago. The deceased Late Gerald A. Soffen banked

with us and had a closing balance as at 22nd November 2000 worth €

24,500,000.00 (Twenty Four Million Five Hundred Thousand Euros). My

bank now expects a next-of-kin to claim the funds as the beneficiary.

Efforts have been made by ABN AMRO BANK to get in touch with the Late

Gerald A. Soffen’s Family or relative but to no avail.

Based on the perceived possibility of not being able to locate Late

Gerald A. Soffen’s relatives, the management under the influence of our

chairman and the board of directors are making arrangements for the

funds to be declared unclaimed and channeled to an unknown account. It

is based on this that I have contacted you to stand as the next-of-kin

of Late Gerald A. Soffen so that the funds, will be released and paid

into your account as the beneficiary/next-of-kin to the deceased.

All documents to enable you get the funds have been carefully worked

out as I have secured documents from the different offices concerned

for the smooth transfer of the fund to your nominated account. It has

been agreed that you will be compensated with 30% of the remitted

Funds, while I keep 60% as my share and 10% is been set aside for both

local and international expenses that might be incurred in actualizing

this transaction.

If this proposal satisfies you, please reach me either by mail or

phone: +31 64 921 4989, for more clarification about how this will be

done.
N.B.Reply to my private email:tomdeswaan_04@yahoo.it.

Yours faithfully,

TOM DE SWAAN
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
ABN AMRO BANK NETHERLANDS


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