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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: "Mark Luke" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <markluke@sify.com>
Date: Mon, 17 May 2010 07:37:42 -0700
Subject: consider this/ reply asap

Dear Friend,
My name is Mr Mark Luke, I am the Regional Manager, UBS investment finance & securities Lagos,
Nigeria. I write you this proposal in good faith; I  am married with two lovely children. I am a man of
peace, and have sincere respect for human  feelings and opinions. I have packaged a financial
transaction that will benefit you and I.
As the  Regional Manager of the Finance company, it is my duty to send in a financial report to my
head office at the end of each business year.
On the course of last year, 2009 business report, I discovered that I have made US$10.2 million United
States Dollars ($10,200,000.00) through placing some funds on fixed deposits and my head office is
not aware of this and will never be aware of it. I have also placed this funds on what we call Escrow
call account with no beneficiary.
As an officer of this bank I cannot be directly connected to this money, so my aim of contacting you
is to assist me receive this money in your bank account and get 30% of the  total funds as commission.
There are practically no risks involved, the transaction will be executed  under a legitimate arrangement
that will protect you from any breach of the law. All I need from you is to stand as the original  depositor
of these funds. the one who made the deposit with my branch so that my head office can order the release
and transfer to your designated bank account under few working days.
 
If you accept to work with me I will  appreciate it very much  as you are the first and the only person I
am contacting for this transaction.
Send me an email as soon as you receive this message if you are willing so that we  can go over the
details.
Thank you in advance and God  bless you and your family.
Sincerely,
Mr Mark Luke
Email: markluke@sify.com
 

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