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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: tankosn isah <tankosn_24@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <pw89uc@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 28 Jul 2007 22:06:41 +0100
Subject: Dear: Sir/Madam,



FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA PLC
MARINA, LAGOS-NIGERIA.
INTERNATIONAL TRANSFER DEPT.,
CHEQUE/DRAFT DEPARTMENT
TELEGRAM: FBNFOREX

Dear: Sir/Madam,

I am Mr. Tanko Isah, Director Allocation department. First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Marina Branch, Lagos. My office monitors and controls the
Affairs of all banks and financial institutions in Nigeria concerned
With all foreign claims and payments, I am the final signatory to any transfer or remittance of huge funds moving within banks both on the local and international levels in line with foreign claim settlement.

I have before me list of funds, which could not be transferred to some
Nominated accounts, as these accounts have been identified either as
Ghost accounts, unclaimed deposits and over-invoiced sum etc.

0n this note, I wish to have a deal with you as regards to an unpaid
Fund. I have a file before me and the data's are correct and
un-tampered. As it is my duty to recommend the transfer of these surplus funds to the Federal Government Treasury and Reserve Accounts as unclaimed deposits,

I have the opportunity to write you based on the instructions I received two days ago from the Foreign Debts reconciliation dept to submit the List of payment reports / expenditures and audited reports of revenues. Among several others, I have decided to remit your claim sum following my idea that we can have a deal/agreement and I am going to do this legally.

My conditions:

1. The sum of USD$9.7M only will be transfer into your account after the processing of all relevant legal documents with your name as the
main beneficiary, the transfer will be made by Draft or telegraphic
Transfer (T/T), confirmable in 3 working days.

2. This deal must be kept secret forever, and all correspondence will be strictly by email / telephone, for security purposes.

3. There should be no third parties as most problems associated with your fund release are caused by your agents or representative.

If you AGREE with my conditions, l advice you to send the following:

A: Your Full name and address
B: Your direct telephone number
C: Sex
D: Occupation.

And the transfer will commence without delay as I will proceed to fix
Your name on the Payment schedule instantly to meet the three days
Mandate.

I hope you don't reject this offer and have these funds released to you.

I am waiting for your reply soon.

Yours sincere

Mr. Tanko Isah.
_________________________________________________________________
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