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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: "Edward Wolski" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <edwardwolski00000000003@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2009 02:01:32 -0700
Subject: RESPONSE NEEDED 07-08-2009

UBS AG
Postfach 8098 Zurich
Switzerland
Swiss Clearing Number: 230
Postal Account: 80-2-2
SWIFT: UBSW CH ZH 80A
Web site: www.ubs.com
 
Dear Friend,
 
I am an investment consultant working with Bank UBS AG Zurich at their offshore
department Zurich Switzerland . I will be happy to work this deal out with you
if you have a corporate or personal Bank Account. I need strong Assurance that
you will never let me down, if I transfer this money to your account.
 
During one of our periodic auditing I discovered a dormant accounts with
holding balance of US$ 232,000.000.00 {Two hundred and Thirty Two million US
Dollars only}.
 
If you are not familiar with Swiss Dormant Accounts and profile, please take a
moment of your very busy schedules to read about Swiss dormant accounts:
website; http://www.crt-ii.org/2001_list/publication_list1_A.phtm
 
If you know that you are capable to handle large or small amount on trust and
can keep secret and ready to take 40% of any amount I transfer to your account
from the dormant account and I will take 60%, send the following information by
return mail
 
Beneficiary Bank name.........................?
Bank address....................................?
Account no.......................................?
Swift code.......................................?
Account name...................................? Beneficiary
address............................?
Your phone no...................................?
Your Occupation.................................?
Age....................................?
Also needed, a Scan copy of your In't Passport/ID Card............?
 
Tell me more about yourself, while I look forward to receive the above
information.
 
I want to re-assure you that this business is risk-free and you can send an
empty account to receive the funds, provided that the account is capable to
receive incoming funds.
 
Thank you for your time and attention, I looked forward to receiving your
prompt reply to my E-mail address:
 
Warmest regards,
 
Mr. Edward Wolski.

Anti-fraud resources: