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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.

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

Fraud email example:

From: philip obi <philipobi_11@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <philip1obi@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 15 Sep 2007 09:23:46 +0000
Subject: READ AND GET BACK TO ME.




From the desk of Mr Philip Obi
Auditing & Accounting DepartmentBanques / Etablissements financiers
République Togolaise.13 Rue du Commerce Lome,Togo.BP 359- Lome Swift: BEFRT,Telex : 3013.

Dear Friend,

With due respect,I crave your indulgence as I contacted you in such a surprising manner,but I respectfully insist that you read this letter carefully as I am optimistic it will open doors for unimaginable financial rewards for both of us. I got your contact from a directory data in my search for a reliable and reputable person to handle a very confidential transaction that involves transfer of fund to a foreign account and I decided to contact you.

In a brief introduction,I am Mr Philip Obi, an internal auditor with a financial institution here in Lome,Togo West-Africa. With due respect and regard, It is my pleasure to seek for your assistance in this confidential business transaction,which will be of mutual benefit to both of us at the end. In my department I discovered an abandoned sum of $7.5 Million United States Dollars in an account that belongs to a foreign national an expartriate oil consultant who died with his family in auto crash on 16th of October 1997.

Since we got the information about his death,we have been expecting his relatives to come over for the claim of his money with our bank because it cannot be released unless somebody officially applies for it as indicated in the banking guidelines, but unfortunately we learnt that all his supposed next of kin died alongside with him in the event of the crash leaving nobody behind for the claim.

Upon Maturity of the deposit, the fund was confined to a dormant status where upon I made this discovery,and It is a standard practice that after the expiration of Ten years the funds will be declared as an "Unclaimed Asset Resource" and the account is closed.

My contacting you based on the fact that you are a foreigner,Is to allow your particulars to be forwarded to this institution as next of kin so that the fund will be released to you for our benefit. Based on the laws and ethics of employment here in my country,we as civil servants are not allowed to operate a foreign account. This is the more reason why I needed your assistance in this deal to provide an account that can sustain this fund for safe keeping and future investment with your comprehensive advise/assistance and partnership in your country.

With my support this transaction will be done under a legitimate arrangement that will protect us from any breach of the law. I also hope to conclude this transaction within a short period of time if you accord your unalloyed support and co-operation.
All the arrangement to put claim over this fund has been perfected by me and I will be directing you on the steps to follow until the fund is released to you. Every infomation relating to the deceased customer shall be revealed to you. I advise that you get back to me without further delay for more explanations and possible means of transferring this fund to your account.

As with the case of all organised (sensitive) and conspired DEALS,I solicit for your unreserved confidentiality and utmost secret in this deal. I hope to retire peacefully and leave a honourable business life afterwards. Plesae be rest assured that as far as I am concerned this transaction is 100% risk free,because I have already covered every loop holes and also set my machinery at work to avoid traces. All the necessary documents shall be obtained on your behalf to back you up for the claim.

At the conclusion of this transaction the fund will be shared 60/40. You will disburse 60% to my account and the remaining 40% will be for you in respect to the provision of the foreign account and your assistance.

As soon as you accept this condition and finally indicate your interest in this deal,I will send to you by fax or e-mail the Application of Claim which you shall fill and submit to the bank for easy execution of the transfer to your account. Meanwhile, I'm assuring you that with my position in the bank,the fund will hit your account successfully before Nine official banking days.

Waiting eagerly for your urgent response 00228 9012338.

Best regards,Mr Philip Obi
_________________________________________________________________
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