joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
 Free trial for 30 days
   jwSpamSpy
Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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: "Skye Bank Plc" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <skyebankoffice@zing.vn>
Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2014 04:30:00 +1000
Subject: Congratulations!!!

Skye Bank
Head Office:
Skye Bank Plc
3, Akin Adesola Street,
Victoria Island, Lagos.
 
Attn: The Beneficiary ,
 
The U.S.A Government, World Bank And United Nations Organization Official  His Excellency President Dr Good-luck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa in Abuja today meeting with some members of the Federal House of Senate, Has approved to pay you part payment of your Contract/Inheritance Fund payment Valued at $60M USD in conjunction with British Government and SKYE BANK PLC.
 
The International Remittance Department (SKYE BANK PLC) was set up to discover an outstanding unpaid fund being owned to Governments or Individuals all over the world through Contract Payment, Inheritance and Lottery Winning Prize Awards.
 
However,decision was made last week. With this development, a woman by name (MRS:KERRY MORTON) came to our office with an application stating that you gave her the power of attorney to be the beneficiary of your Outstanding funds. She made us to believe that you are dead and that she is your next of kin.
 
We got your email address and decided to send an email through this address hoping to find out if you are dead or alive and also to find out if you at any time gave this woman the power of attorney to represent you.Please let us know also if you are aware as we are getting ready to transfer a part payment of $1M USD of your outstanding funds to her nominated bank account stated below:
 
NAME OF BANK: FIRST NATIONAL BANK
ADDR: 120 SO. 2nd. ST.
BLYTHEVILLE,ARKANSAS 72315 USA
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 482986
ROUTING NUMBER:084107343
Swift code # : WMSBUS66
BENEFICIARY: KERRY MORTON
 
If you are aware of the above information ,do not respond to this email but if not , you are advised to reply this message immediately before it will be late .Be informed that you are not allowed to correspond or contact any person or office with respect to this transfer other than this office to avoid any complication or mistake .
We are looking forward to hear from you Asap.
 
Yours Faithfully,
Mr.John White  ( Supervisor)
Skye Bank Nigeria Plc.

Anti-fraud resources: