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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: "Erik Madu" <erikmadu43@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: ericmmadu@myway.com
Date: Wed, 14 Dec 2005 12:42:50 -0700
Subject: URGENT

FROM THE DESK OF:
MR.ERIK MADU
ACCOUNTANT.
FIRST BOND BANK OF NIGERIA PLC.,
NO.4 AKPAN STR., V/ISLAND LAGOS.

ATTN:SIR

I am Mr.Erik Madu. an accountant with THE FIRST BOND BANK OF NIGERIA PLC and
I need your assistance in remmitting a huge ammount of money to your bank
account this money which originally belongs to Mr. Charles Fredrick a
national of your country who until his death was an employee with Shell Oil
Company in Nigeria,he died in a fatal car accident with members of his
families 5 years ago,since then we have made several enquiries to your
embassy to locate any of the extended relatives and this has proved
unsuccessful.

After several unsuccessful attempts I decided to track his name over the
Internet to locate any member of his family.
I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money left behind by
Mr.Charles Fredrick before the bank confiscated or declares it
unserviceable.

. Note that after final discusions with one of my superior in the TELEX
DEPARTMENT we arrived at contacting you as the next of kin to claim this
fund into your nimminatted bank account before the account is declared
confiscated,note also that this transfer will be concluded within the next
(7) seven official working days.

I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased as I
have carefully search through the internet to locate someone whom i will
present as the next of kin to the deceased and i need your cooperation so
that the $15million dollars can be remmitted to you and then we can share
the money,30% to you and 60% for us, while 10% will take care of all
expenses that might be incured on the course of the transfer. All I require
is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through.

I advise that you send across your direct phone number for prompt
communication and I guarantee that this transaction will be executed under a
legitimate atmosphere that will protect you from any breach of transaction /
law.

Regards.

MR.ERIK MADU.
ACCOUNTANT.
(FIRST BOND BANK OF NIGERIA PLC).


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