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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: "udom emmanuel" <emmanueludom@msn.com>
Date: Wed, 11 Jan 2006 14:25:50 +0000
Subject: REAL ESTATE, READ AND RESPOND.

ZENITH BANK PLC
Plot 84 Ajose
Adeogun Street, Victoria
Island, Lagos, Nigeria

Hello,
 I hope this will not meet you as a surprise, as I know that I have not had any previous corresponding with you, but have taken interest in you, as a result of my choice of investment. I am Udom Emmanuel, General Manager and Group Head of Income Optimisation, Financial Control & Strategic Planning Department, ZENITH BANK PLC, Nigeria.
  This is an urgent and very confidential business proposition. I am seeking your assistance here to enable me transfer and invest the sum of $24M in LANDED ROPERTIES there in your country. The source of these funds is as follows: On December 18th 2003, a Foreign Oil consultant/contractor with the Nigerian statutes of Mining and metallurgy, Mr. Steve Warren, made a numbered  time(Fixed) Deposit for twelve calendar months, valued at(3.24billion naira) equivalent to US$24,000,000.00,(Twenty-Four Million Dollars) in my branch. Upon maturity, I sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After a month, we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his contract employers, the Nigerian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy that Mr. Steve Warren died from an automobile accident. On further investigation, I found out that he died without making a WILL and all attempts to trace his next of kin were fruitless.
 I therefore made further investigation and discovered that Mr.SteveWarren did not declare any next of kin or relations in all his official documents, including his Bank Deposit documents in my Bank. This sum of US$24,000,000.00 has carefully been fixed in my bank for safekeeping. No one will ever come forward to claim it. According to the Nigerian Law, at the expiration of 5 (five) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Government if nobody applies to claim the fund. Consequently, my proposal is that, since Mr. Steve Warren is a Foreigner, I will like you as a Foreigner to stand in as the owner of the money which was fixed deposited in my bank. I am writing you because I as a public servant, I cannot operate a foreign account, and more so, my choice of investment, which is one of the reasons why I would want you to assist me, as I will need your assistance to invest these funds in the Real Estate business, to which any PROFIT RETURN will be shared under an agreed percentage between the both of us, outside the normal percentage to be agreed on for your assistance. I want to present you as the owner of the funds so you can be able to claim them.
 This is simple. I will like you to provide immediately your full names and address, as well as phone and fax numbers, so that all the necessary document can be prepared , which will put you in place as the beneficiary of the funds.
 The money will be moved out for us to share in the ratio of 80% for me and 20% for you. The paperwork for this transaction will be done in accordance to the law of the land and this guarantees the successful execution of this transaction.
If you are interested, and upon your response, I shall provide you with more details and relevant documents that will help you understand the transaction.
Please observe utmost confidentiality, and be rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require your assistance to invest my share in Real Estate within your country. This is the major reason why I have contacted you. Due to the nature and confidentiality in this Transaction, it should be accorded all the necessary confidentiality required, as my job will be at stake in the event of any eventuality. I hope that this will meet you in a good state of mind.
 I will pause for now, as I await your urgent response, please make all response to this email:
emmanueludom2005@yahoo.co.uk

Regards.
Udom Emmanuel

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