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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: "Andrew Howell" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <andrewhowell2@megamail.pt>
Date: Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:07:58 +0100
Subject: Kindly Assist: Funds Transfer




Compliments of the Day,

Dear Sir,

I am Mr. Andrew Howell, a staff with Barclays Bank Plc UK. I decided to reach you directly to solicit your assistance and Guidelines in making a business investment and transfer a huge amount of GBP 15,000,000.00 (Fifteen Million British Pounds Sterling Only). The fund is legitimate and has all confirmable legal documents to back this payment in your name legitimately. Thus, I need to solicit your permission, assistance and support; I propose an offer of 40% of the total amount to you . I presently work as an Account Director and in charge with all Offshore Mortgage & Services of our overseas brokers/investors with Barclays Bank Plc, London. The account has been dormant, and last operated many years ago. Nobody has done anything as regards to the claiming of this money, because the account owner has no family member or friends that have any knowledge, as to the existence of either the account or the funds; I have decided to find a reliable partner to
deal with. My proposition to you is to seek your consent to present you as the Next of kin and beneficiary of this late client, that the proceeds of this account valued a huge sum shall be paid to you, and then we can share the amount on a mutually agreed percentage.

As at this moment, I am constrained to issue more details about this business until your response is received. Please take out a moment of your very busy Schedule today, to respond back if you are interested. Please send your response and direct telephone numbers via my email, for further explanations on source of funds and details of funds transfer. I wish for utmost confidentiality in handling this transaction. You can write me back with my private email address (andrew.howell@megamail.pt ) OR ( andrewhowell@i12.com ) .

I await your immediate response,
Sincerely Yours,
Mr. Andrew Howell.





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