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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: "Mr. Stephen Bird." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <stephenbird@post.sk>
Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2017 15:19:29 +0100
Subject: Re: Nice to meet you

Hello My Friend.
 
 
I'm a banker working with CitiBank here in Turkey, I write to contact you over a very important business transaction which will be of our interest and benefit to our both families, kindly  reply to me on my personal email.
 
 
In 2010, One Mr.David , whose surname is same as yours, made a fixed deposit for 36 months, valued at Six Million Four Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only (  $6,400,000.00 ) with my bank. I was his account officer before I was promoted  to the position of Manager. Sadly Mr. David was among the death victims in the September 2012 plan crash That left over 125 people dead while they were going on business trip, Since the last quarter of 2013 until today the management of my bank has been finding means to reach him or any of his family so as ascertain if he will roll over the Deposit or have the contract sum withdrawn. When I discovered that this will happen, I have tried to think up a procedure to preserve this fund and use the proceeds for business.
 
 
Some directors here have been trying to find out from me the information about this account and the owner, but I have kept it closed because, I know that if they become aware that Mr.David,is late, they will corner the funds for themselves. Therefore, am seeking your co-operation to present you as the one to benefit from his fund at his death since you have the same Last name, so that my bank headquarters will transfer the funds to you. I have done enough inside bank and i will only have to program your details/information into our database here in our bank computer and reflect you as his family next of kin to benefit from this funds.
 
 
If you accept this proposal, I intend for you to retain 50% of the funds while 50% shall be for me.
 
 
 
Best Regards.
 
Mr. Stephen Bird

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