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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: INFO <post@gwgd.or.kr>
Reply-To: <mpat791@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2020 00:09:24 -0700
Subject: INFO

Dear
 
I am Patrick Morgan, Currently Head of Corporate Affairs Department with our bank here in Benin Republic. I was the account Officer to Philip, a national of your country, who was an Engineer, a sole owner of Phil Construction Company, Carre 13, Rue de Porto Novo.
I write you this proposal in good faith, with strong belief that I can trust you with the information I am about to reveal to you because I have an urgent and very confidential business proposition for you. On the 1st of August 2014 being our Independence day, our customer, his wife and their three children were
involved in a car accident along Quidah-Parakou expressway and all occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives.
 
For over 5 years I have made several inquiries to locate any of our customer's extended relatives without success. I have contacted you to assist in recovering the money left behind by our deceased customer before they get confiscated by our bank where the deceased had an account valued at 7.8 million U.S Dollars, and I happened to be his account officer before I was moved to my present position recently. I now seek your consent to present you as the Next of kin since you have the same last name so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you and then you and I can share the money in the ratio, 50 Percent to you and 50 Percent to me.
 
 As the Account Officer to the deceased, coupled with my present position and status in the bank, I have some vital information that can help for the release of the funds to you with the correct information concerning his account which I will provide. I have the secret Code for the account, which only the account owner can know.
 
I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. I will need the following information from you, Your Full Name and Address,Your Age, Occupation and Your private Telephone-Mobile for easy Communication Purpose.
 
Yours sincerely,
Patrick Morgan

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