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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: Kenan Zengin <gpeillon@devign.fr>
Reply-To: <kenanzengin226@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 15 Nov 2021 01:47:49 +0200
Subject: URGENTLY RESPOND

Dear friend,
 
I am Mr. Kenan Zengin, a Bank Officer here in Turkey. Nice coming across you. I am having an important business discussion I wish to share with you which I believe will interest you because it is in connection with your last name/nationality and you are going to benefit from it.
 
One of our late Customer, a citizen of your country who was into Real Estate Business here in Turkey, had a fixed deposit with my bank in 2007 for 156 calendar months, valued at US$6,500,000.00 (Six Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) the due date for this deposit was last year. Sadly our Customer, was among the death victims in the March 19th 2016 fatal accident that happened near Lamphun province in the North Region of Thailand while He was on a business trip.
 
My bank management is yet to know about his death, I knew about this because I was his account officer. He did not mention any Next of Kin/Heir when the account was opened, and He was not married and no relative was found. Last week my Bank Management had a meeting for a bank verification exercise to note dormant and abandoned deposit accounts.
I know this will happen and that is why I have been looking for a means to handle the situation because if my Bank Directors happens to discover his death, The bank will divert the funds for their head directors to share. So I don't want such to happen. That was why when I saw your details, I was happy.
 
I am now seeking your cooperation to present you as Next of Kin/ Heir to the account since you have the same last name and same nationality with him and my bank headquarters will release the account to you through my help. There is no risk involved, the transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of law.
It is better that we claim the money than allowing the Bank Directors to divert it and share among themselves. I am not a greedy person, so I am suggesting we share the funds, 50/50% for you and I respectively. Let me know your mind on this and please do treat this information confidential. I shall give you more details once I receive your positive urgent response.
 
Best Regards,
 
Kenan Zengin.
 

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