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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: "Mark Boland" <mmboland1@msn.com>
Reply-To: markb11@faithmail.com
Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2006 20:32:56 +0000
Subject: GOOD NEWS FOR NEW YEAR.

ABN AMRO BANK
Address: 101 Moorgate,
London, EC2M 6SB.
U.K.

Dear Friend,

I am Mr. Mark Boland the Bank Manager of ABN AMRO Bank 101 Moorgate, London,
EC2M 6SB.

I have urgent and very confidential business proposition for you.On JULY
20,2001; Mr Zemenu Gente,a National of France, who used to be a private
contractor with the Shell Petroleum
Development Company in Saudi Arabia Mr. Zemenu Gente Made a numbered time
(Fixed deposit) for 36 calendar months, valued at GBP18,000,000.00 (Eighteen
Million Pounds only) in my branch.

Upon maturity in 2004, 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, Shell Petroleum
Development Company in Saudi Arabia that Mr Zemenu Gente And his wife with
their three children were involved in an auto crash, all occupants of the
vehicle unfortunately lost their lives during his trip to his home country
(France). On further investigation, I found out that he died without making
a WILL, and all attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless. I therefore
made further investigation
and discovered that Mr. Zemenu Gente. Did not declare any kin or relations
in all his official documents, including his Bank Deposit Paperwork in my
Bank.

This sum of GBP 18.000, 000.00 have been floating as unclaimed since 2001 in
my bank as all efforts to get his relatives have hit the stones. According
to the British law at the expiration of 5 (FIVE) years, the Money will
revert to the ownership of the British Government if nobody applies to claim
the fund and the FIVE years is the end of JUNE 2006.Since I have been
unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2 years now, I seek your
consent to present you as the next of kin / Will Beneficiary to the deceased
so that the proceeds of this account
valued at GBP18,000,000.00 can be paid to you.This will be disbursed or
shared in these percentages, 60% to me and 40% to you.

I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim
we may make. All I require is your honest Co-operation, Confidentiality and
Trust to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee you that this
will be executed under a legitimate arrangement
that will protect you from any breach of the law. Please get in touch with
me urgently by email and provide me the following;

1. Full Name
2. Your Telephone Number and Fax Number
3. Your Contact Address.

Your urgent response will be highly anticipated and appreciated.

Best regards,

Mr. Mark Boland


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