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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: "Dave Coleman" <davecoleman09873@att.net>
Reply-To: <davecoleman004@inmail.sk>
Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2011 10:35:13 +0100
Subject: Your Urgent Assistance Is Needed

Good day,

I apologize for sending you this sensitive information via e-mail Instead of a Certified/Post-mail.

This is due to the urgency and importance of the information. I humbly crave your Indulgence to read this e-mail with all seriousness of purpose devoid of any doubt in your mind because this project is based on trust, confidentiality and sincerity of purpose in order to have an acceptable meeting of the minds. Although, we have never met before, but i have every reason to believe that you are a highly respected personality, considering the fact that i got your e- mail address through internet my online network, while searching for a reliable and reputable person that can handle this transaction.


This request does not have any thing to do with scam or fraud in any way, it is just a legitimate opportunity, which any person in my position will not afford to miss.


I am a senior manager accounts/audit in Nat West Bank London. I am writing following an opportunity in my office that will be of immense benefit to both of us. In my department we discovered an abandoned sum of £10.5 (Ten million five hundred Thousand Pounds Only) in an account that belongs to one of our foreign customers who unfortunately lost his life on his way to the Airport. Since we got information about his death, we have been expecting His next of kin or relatives to come forward and claim his money because we cannot release it unless somebody applies for it as Next of kin or relation to the deceased as indicated in our banking guidelines.

Unfortunately I discovered that his supposed next of kin, being his Only daughter and wife died along with him in the auto crash leaving nobody with the knowledge of this fund behind for claim. It is Therefore upon this discovery that I and his account manager now decided to make business with you and release the money to you as the next of kin or beneficiary of the funds for safety keeping and subsequent disbursement since nobody is coming for it and we don't want the money to go back into Government treasury as unclaimed. The banking law and guidelines here stipulates that such money remained after seven years the money will be transferred into banking treasury as unclaimed funds.

We agreed that 35% of this money would be for you as foreign partner, while the balance will be for my colleagues and me. I will visit your country for disbursement according to the percentage indicated above, once this money gets into your account. Please be honest with me. To commence this transaction, we require you to immediately indicate your interest by a return e-mail and enclose the

Following information:

1. Full name.
2: Your private telephone and Fax numbers.
3. Occupations and Nationality.
4. Date Of Birth.
5. Present Location.

Note this transaction is confidential and risk free. Please note that all the necessary arrangement for the smooth release of these funds to you will be finalized as soon as you indicate your role in this transaction. We will discuss more in details when I receive your response, please contact me through my private E-mail address (davecoleman004@inmail.sk)

Best regards
Dave Coleman

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