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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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Fraud email example:

From: "Mr, Mark Duke." <markduke@terra.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: markduke24@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 30 May 2005 15:47:13 -0700
Subject: Transfer & Investment.

Mr, Mark Duke.
Manager, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc
Marina Branch, Lagos
Dear Sir

AN URGENT BUSINESS PROPOSAL
I am pleased to get across to you for a very urgent and profitable business
proposal, though I do not know you neither have I seen you before but my
confidence was reposed On you when the Chief Executive of Lagos State
chamber of Commerce and Industry handed me your contact for a confidential
business.
I am Mr, Mark Duke.Manager of Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, Marina Branch,
Lagos Nigeria. The intended business is thus;
I had a customer, a Foreigner, Mr Omer (a Turkish) resident in Nigeria, he
was a Contractor with one of the Government Parastatals. He has in his
Account in my branch the sum of US$21.5 Million (Twenty-One Million Five
hundred thousand U.S.Dollars). Unfortunately, the man died four years ago
until today non-of his next of kin has come forward to claim the money.
Having noticed this, I in collaboration with one other top Officials of the
bank covered up the account all this while.
Now I want you (being a foreigner) to be fronted as the next of kin of
the deceased, and forward all the necessary information that attest to the Claim
documentation, to back up the claims.
INFORMATION:
1) Your direct telephone and fax numbers.
2) Your full names and address.
The whole procedures will last only ten working days to get the fund
retrieved successfully without trace even in future.Your response is only
what I am waiting for for the documentation and approval of the transaction.
As soon as this message comes to you get back to me indicating your
interest,then I will furnish you with the whole procedures to ensure that
the deal is successfully Concluded.
For your assistance, we have agreed principle, to offer you 25% of the total
sum at the end of the transaction. It is risk free and a big mega fortune.
All correspondences towards this transaction will be through telephone and
e-mail.

I await your earliest response.
Yours Sincerely
Mr, Mark Duke.


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