joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: ".IAN WILLIAMS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <taracanchic@rambler.ru>
Date: Tue, 16 Apr 2024 00:37:08 -0700
Subject: VERY URGENT

Dear Friend,

I got your contact email address on the internet in my search for a reputable, reliable, and trustworthy person who can stand confidently with me.

My name is Mr.IAN WILLIAMS , I work with
HALIFAX BANK Plc here in London. I am
writing in respect of a foreign customer
of my Bank (ANTHONY P. ANDERSON of your
country) who died on the 24th of March,
2020 due to this recent Corona-virus
pandemic.

There was an account opened in my Bank
by this late INDUSTRIALIST/CONTRACTOR
who died without a written or Oral WILL
and Next of Kin information attached to
his bank account,
and no other person knows about this
account or anything concerning it,
because the account has no other
beneficiary or Next of Kin until his
death.

Meanwhile, the Banking ethics here does
not allow an account to stay dormant
more than a year without being operated,
hence the money deposited in the said
account will be confiscated as unclaimed
funds after the long period of dormancy.

So, it is in light of these development
that I am compelled to seek your
indulgence and active participation in a
well thought out scheme for you to act
as the Next of q`111Kin and foreign
beneficiary of the fund from the
deceased, since it is certain that no
one will show up to be the Next of Kin
to claim the funds.

The total amount involved is USD
9,500,000.00 (nine million five hundred
US)

I will not fail to bring to your notice
that this transaction is 100% risk free
and that you should not entertain any
fear as all modalities for fund transfer
can be finalized within a few banking
days after you apply to my Bank as the
beneficiary of the fund from the
deceased.

The only risk I foresee here is you
alerting my Bank or your refusal to work
with me.

So, I would like you to treat this
transaction with utmost confidentiality
between me and you alone. I promise to
always have direct communication with
you on how this transfer will go
successfully, if only you can abide by
my instruction.

Upon receipt of your reply, I will give
you full details on how the transfers
will be executed and I can obtain and
manipulate all vital documents necessary
for a successful transfer of the fund
into your bank account.

I look forward to your quick response.
Thanks and trusting to hear from you
immediately. as I will give you more
details after I receive your urgent
reply.

Best Regards,
Mr.Ian Williams

Anti-fraud resources: