joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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 about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: Tony Uzo <tonyuzo111@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2006 14:18:04 +0200
Subject: Stand As Next Of Kin From Union Bank


UNION BANK PLC
36 MARINA,
P.M.B 2027,
LAGOS NIGERIA.
 
Attn; Sir/Madam
Prior to the available business associated to my office as a banker of
the above mentioned bank and address, l require your concerted effort and interest as l have been looking for a trusted person to handle this business but the returns has not been too impressive hence my contacting you now for the immediate appraisal and co-operation in this business transaction.
 
This business came into being following the demise of one of our
customer by name Engr. Ramirex Saba of El-savador who died while on his way to his country Home for a Festive Celebration. He died in auto accident while conveying from airport to his home alongside  all his family including his supposed next of kin Mez Sanchez. All these, thrown the Bank to searching for relatives of the deceased but every effort proved abortive as there is every indication that Engr Ramirex Sanchez left no will regarding a fixed deposit of USD8.15million he had in in this bank.
 
Our Bank in their swift arrangement decided to convert this fund to
investment hence our national law states that such fund should be placed embargo after four years of unclaim. This situation mandated me to look for a trusted and reliable foreigner who could stand to claim this money as the real beneficiary next of kin to the deceased.
I have put all logistic measures in place for a transparent and hitch
free transaction. There are some vital legal documents that I will
secured and forwarded to you which would enable you stand as the real beneficiary of the fund without doubt.
 
I want to assure you with my position that this transaction is 100%
risk free, I have incent to favour you with 20% of the total fund if you are in position to assist me with your account to retrive this fund. But I must state categoricaly here that the essential qaulification to this transaction is honest, trustworthiness and transparency. And for the confirmation of your sincerity and acceptance to my proposal the following things would be needed;
  
  1) your full name and contact address like home and office address.

2) Your telephone and fax numbers
3) your identification data
4) Your position/profession/occupation.
 
Upon your reply, l will give you the laydown procedure and other facts that would enable you to understand the transaction better.
 
NB: This arrangement should be treated with utmost secrecy,For
confidentiality reasons, Kindly contact me through email at
Best regard
 
Mr Tony Uzu

 

Anti-fraud resources: