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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" <markboland@faithmail.com>
Date: Wed, 18 Jan 2006 13:37:01 -0800
Subject: GOOD NEWS

ABN AMRO BANK
Address: 101 Moorgate,
London, EC2M 6SB.
U.K.
Email address markboland@faithmail.com

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
GBP30,000,000.00 (Thirty 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 30.000, 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 w ill 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 GBP30,000,000.00 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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