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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: Bob Mark <mr.bobbmark@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 21 Dec 2021 10:40:31 +0000
Subject: RE: FINANCIAL TRANSACTION


DEAR SIR,

I am a newly promoted Branch Manager of a Bank here in Europe. I got your
information during my search through the Internet. It may interest you to
hear that I come in PEACE and don't want problems. I only hope we can
assist each other. If you don't want this business offer kindly forget it,
as I will not contact you again. I have packaged a financial transaction
that will benefit both of us, as the Branch Manager of the Bank, it is my
duty to send in a Financial Report to the head office at the end of each
year. On the course of that I discovered this fund [US$20 Million dollars]
floating in a suspense account, yet to be claimed.

I wish to place your name as the beneficiary to [US$20 Million dollars] due
to the death of the depositor who died along with his wife and only
daughter due to covid. However, I assure you that this transaction will be
done under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach
of the law anywhere and here in Europe. once the fund is transferred to
your bank account. Therefore I solicit for your collaboration with me to
have this deal done and we share the money.

As an officer of the bank, I cannot be directly linked to this money, so
this is why I am contacting you, for us to work together so that you can
assist me to receive this fund into your bank account for us to share the
money. I am offering you 40% of the total fund, while you keep 60% for me
in your bank account till I join you for the sharing/investment of my own
share of the funds or better still we can go into a joint partnership
venture, I will appreciate it very much. As soon as I receive your
response, I will give you more details on how we can achieve it
successfully.

Thanks for your cooperation and keep Confidential.

Best regards,
Mr. Bob

Anti-fraud resources: