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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

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

Fraud email example:

From: "MICHEAL WILLIAMS" <micheal_2k5@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2006 02:19:33 -0900
Subject: Urgent

UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC,
PLOT 246 OBAKRAN A
IKEJA LAGOS NIGERIA.

Dear Friend,

I am (Mr. TIMMY IGWE ONOWU)Assistant General Manager(A.G.M)Foreign
Operations,Union Bank Of Nigeria PLC.
I am moved to write you this mail due to it's importance, urgency and
profit. And I am sorry if this mail is coming to you as an intruision in to
your private life. A foreigner, late Dr.Ben Paul,an Oil Magnate,until his
death years ago, made a huge deposit with us, here at Union Bank PLC, Lagos,
and with a closing balance of USD$18.5M (Eighteen Million,Five Hundred
Thousand United States Dollars).

The Bank will unquestionably release this funds to as claims by any of his
available next of kin(Wife Mrs Sandra(now divorced) ,Ms Jim and Miss Mary
Paul)OR alternatively be donated to a discredited Trust Fund For Arms and
Ammunition(T.F.F.A.A) at the military war college here in Nigeria, according
to the document before us.

Fervent efforts have been made by the Management of the Bank to get in touch
with any of Dr.Paul'next of kins or families but to no avail. It is due to
the perceived impossibility of locating any of late Dr. Paul Greens' next of
kin ( wife and two children Ms Jim and Miss Mary Paul) that the management
met to declare this funds"UNCLAIMED DEPOSIT".

It has resolved at releasing this funds to The Trust Fund For Gov account.
In order to make use of this golden opportunity,my Boss, colleagues and I
agreed to seek the assistance of a foreigner who will be willing to assume
and pose as the beneficiary next of kin of Dr.Ben .
Now,we seek your cooperation to have you stand as late Dr. Ben Paul`s next
of kin to enable us transfer the money without stress into your personal
Account($18.5m).

All documents and proves to enable you get this fund have been carefully
worked out and we are assuring you a 100% risk free.
We have agreed to offer you 15% while the rest,85% would be for myself and
my colleagues. If this proposal is OK. by you, and you do not wish to take
the advantage of the trust I have imposed on you, we hope to do more
business with you .Send us your response as soon as possible through :( and
His name is (Mr.John Emeka)
Note that we will like you to get back to us as soon as you receive this
mail to enable us know our standing regards the transaction.

Thanks and God bless you.

Best Regards,

(Mr TIMMY IGWE ONOWU)
Assistant General Manager union bank



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