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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: Tom West <tomw20014@gmail.com>
Reply-To: tomwest20121@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 26 Jun 2014 11:21:25 -0700
Subject: Good day

Hello My Friend,

Please sorry for the disturbance but really I will be appreciative if
you could take your time to read my (proposition) thoughtfully,perhaps
you would understand my position and exactly what I would like you to
do for me. However, I am Tom West, I operate with one of the largest
bank in my country and I engaged the rank as the chief financial
officer (CFO) and the group head of research/ commodities in our bank,
I also take charge of all commodities and cover the key institutional
clients (Banks, Asset managers, Hedge funds) on investment strategies.
Meanwhile, I have access to an overdue money worth (Ten million seven
hundred fifty thousand POUNDS (£10,750.000.00) and the rightful owner
of this money is departed many years ago but I have all the necessary
requirements to get this money transfer out of our bank but I need
someone abroad whose bank account can be use to transfer this money
and that is my main reason to contact you? So, I’m contacting you
because I want to transfer the above mentioned money to any of your
reliable bank account if we agree and, if you are indeed exceptionally
serious with this business offer then you can make urgent arrangement
to visit me here in my country and I shall presenting you officially
before the bank decision-making as the true recipient of the money and
if really you are interested and ready in this business then you will
have 35% out of the total money but we shall sign a contract agreement
first that you will not betray me or run away with this
(£10,750.000.00) when it successfully transferred into your bank
account, if you agree then I will give you more details and directive
to get this money release/ transfer to your bank account? In fact, you
can call me on telephone for more information but please you must not
discuss this business with anyone,keep it very confidential until we
are successful.
Thanks for your Co-operation.
Mr.Tom West.

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