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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: "franked" <franked@babbalu.com>
Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2006 18:32:32 -0500
Subject: DEAL

Dear Friend,

Let me start by introducing myself. I am Mr. Kofi Edwards
director of operations of the Fidelity Bank,Nigeria.

I have an obscured business suggestion for you.Before the
U.S and Iraqi war, our client Major Fadi Basem who was with
the Iraqi forces and also business man made a numbered,fixed
deposit for 18 calendar months, with a value of Twenty
million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars only in
my branch.

Upon maturity several notice was sent to him,even during the
war early last year.Again after the war another notification
was sent and still no response came from him.

We later find out that the Major and his family had been
killed during the war in bomb blast that hit their
home.After further investigation it was also discovered that
Major Fadi Basem did not declare any next of kin in his
official papers including the paper workof his bank deposit.
And he also confided in me the last time he was at my office
that no one except me knew of his deposit in my
bank.So,Twenty million Five Hundred Thousand United State
Dollars is still lying in my bank and no one will ever come
forward to claim it.

What bothers me most is that according to the laws of my
country, at the expiration 4 years the funds will revert to
the ownership of the Nigeria Government if nobody applies to
claim the funds. Against this back drop,my suggestion to you
is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand as the next
of kin to Major Fadi Basem so that you will be able to
receive his funds.

WHAT IS TO BE DONE:

I want you to know that I have had everything planned out so
that we shall come out successful. I have contacted an
attorney that will prepare the necessary document that will
back you up as the next of kin to Major Fadi Basem , all
that is required from you at this stage is for you to
provide me with your Full Names and Address so that the
attorney can commence his job.

After you have been made the next of kin, the attorney will
also fill in for claims on your behalf and secure the
necessary approval and letter of probate in your favor for
the move of the funds to an account that will be provided by
you.

There is no risk involved at all in the matter as we are
going to adopt a legalized method and the attorney will
prepare all the necessary documents.

Please endeavor to observe utmost discretion in all matters
concerning this issue.Once the funds have been transferred
to your nominated bank account we shall share in the ratio
of 70% for me, 30% for you .

Should you be interested please send me your full names and
current residential address and I will prefer you to reach
me on the email address
below, Email: frankkk@ny.com


Finally, after that i shall provide you with more details of
this operation.

Your earliest response to this letter will be appreciated.
Regard.
Kofi Edwards

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