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: Mauricio Rojas Elorza <infobank181@gmail.com>
Reply-To: rojaselorzamauricio@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2015 00:22:19 -0700
Subject: Attention to this Notification

Mauricio Rojas Elorza

Banco Santander

Calle Alcala 11, Codigo Postal 28001,

Madrid Spain

I am Mr. Mauricio Rojas Elorza, Director Banco Santander, and Madrid
Branch. I have urgent and very confidential business proposition for
you. On June 6, 2013, an American Oil consultant/contractor with the
Spanish Mining Corporation, Mr. Michael Creek made a numbered time
(Fixed) Deposit for twelve calendar months, valued at Euros
15,200,000.00 (Fifteen Million two hundred thousand Euros) in my
branch. Upon maturity, I sent a routine notification to his forwarding
address but got no reply. After a year, we sent a reminder and finally
we discovered from his contract employers, the Spanish Mining
Corporation that Mr. Michael creek died from an automobile accident.
On further investigation, I found out that he died without making a
WILL, and all attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless.

I therefore made further investigation and discovered that Mr. Michael
creek did not declare any kin or relations in all his official
documents, including his Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank. This sum
of Euros 15,200,000.00 is still sitting in my Bank and the interest is
being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year. No
one will ever come forward to claim it. According to Spanish Law, at
the expiration of 5 (five) years, the money will revert to the
ownership of the Spanish Government if nobody applies to claim the
fund. Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you to stand in as
the next of kin to Mr. Michael creek so that the fruits of this old
man's labor will not get into the hands of Spanish government in my
country. This is simple, I will like you to provide immediately your
full names and address so that the Attorney will prepare the necessary
documents and affidavits which will put you in place as the next of
kin.

We shall employ the service of two Attorneys for drafting and
notarization of the WILL and to obtain the necessary documents and
letter of probate/administration in your favor for the transfer. A
bank account in any part of the world which you will provide will then
facilitate the transfer of this money to you as the beneficiary/next
of kin. The money will be paid into your account for us to share in
the ratio of 50% for me and 40% for you. Then 10% kept out for any
expenses that might come up like country tax from my country or your
country, There is no risk at all as all the paperwork for this
transaction will be done by the Attorney and my position as the Branch
Manager guarantees the successful execution of this transaction.

If you are interested, please reply immediately via my private email
address stated above. Upon your response, I shall then provide you
with more details and relevant documents that will help you understand
the transaction. Please observe utmost confidentiality, and rest
assured that this transaction would be most profitable for both of us
because I shall require your assistance to invest my share in your
country.

Sincerely

Mauricio Rojas Elorza

rojaselorzamauricio@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources: