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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: Godwin Kemas <kemasg@freemail.hu>
Date: Sun, 24 Sep 2017 19:56:18 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: Urgent.


Dear Good Day

I am Mr. Godwin Kemas the Bank Manager of African Development Bank,Cotonou Branch.I have urgent and very confidential business proposition for you. On June 6,2011, a FOREIGN Oil consultant/contractor with the African Petroleum Corporation, Mr. Barry Kelly made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit for twelve calendar months, valued at US$25,000,000.00 (Twenty Five Million Dollars) in my branch. Upon maturity, I sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After a month, we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his contract employers, the African Petroleum Corporation that Mr. Barry Kelly died from an automobile accident. On further investigation, I found out that he died without making "WILL" and all attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless. I therefore made further investigation and discovered that Mr. Barry Kelly did not declare any kin or relations in all his official documents, including his Bank Deposit paperwork in My Bank. This sum of US$25,000,000.00 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 Benin Law,at the expiration of 5 (five) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Benin Government if nobody applies to claim the fund.

Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as an Foreigner to stand in as the next of kin to Mr. Barry Kelly so that the fruits of this old man's labour will not get into the hands of Some corrupt government officials.

The money will be paid into your account for us to share in the ratio of 40% for me and 40% for you and 20% will be map out for Orphans. 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 the private email address below. Upon your response. 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.

Awaiting your urgent reply.   ( godwinkemas6@hotmail.com )

Thanks and regards.

Mr.  Godwin Kemas.

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