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

Fraud email example:

From: "MR. FRANK SMITH" <franksmith_ubn2@klikni.cz>
Reply-To: franksmith_ubn2122@live.com
Date: Tue, 27 May 2008 17:12:17 +0100
Subject: Frank Smith,


Frank Smith,
Branch Manager, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc.
Ikeja, Lagos Nigeria .
Email:franksmith_ubn2122@live.com <Email%3Afranksmith_ubn2122@live.com>


Dear Sir/Madam,

I feel quite safe dealing with you in this business proposition on the
Internet. Though, this medium (Internet) has been greatly abused, I choose
to reach you through it because it still remains the fastest, surest and
most secured medium of communication. However, this correspondence is
unofficial and private, and it should be treated as such. I also guarantee
You that this deal is hitch free from all what you may think of.

I am MR. FRANK SMITH, BRANCH MANAGER, UNON BANK OF NIGERIA PLC.I am
contacting you based on trust and confidentiality that will be attached to
this deal. The Management and the Legal department of our BANK (UNION BANK
PLC) in a recent meeting, Recommended that the account of MR DAVID ANGELL,
who was one of my branch depositor, should be declared dormant and
confisticated and the depositor's fund sent to the Bank Treasury According
to NIGERIA banking and financial law. He died in world trade center as
victims of the September 11, 2001 Incident that befall the united state of
America, the bank is still unrelenting in its bid to contact any of the
relatives to claim this money, you can confirm through this

://www.september11victims.com/september11Victims/victims_list.htm

He is an account holder in this bank; he owns a dollar account with the sum
of US$10.6M (10 Million, Six Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only)
deposited in a numbered account with the bank. In fact it happened that
Since his death nobody has come as his next of kin to claim the money. This
is where I am interested in and this is where I want you to come in. I want
you to come in as the relation of the deceased.

I will be the one to provide the vital documents for the claims of the money
and then advise you exactly how we are to handle the transaction.

Please include your telephone/fax number/ Home Address when replying this
mail and I will give you more information as soon as you indicate your
willingness to Assist in this transaction. I will use my position to get all
internal documentations to back up the claims.

The whole Procedures will not be cumbersome.


Yours truly,

MR. FRANK SMITH

NB. You are to reach me via this confidential email
address:franksmith_ubn2122@live.com <address%3Afranksmith_ubn2122@live.com>

Anti-fraud resources: