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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: "Babagana Kingibe" <babagana_presidency@gazeta.pl>
Reply-To: austenobigweao@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 2 Jun 2008 03:15:13 -0700
Subject: THE APPROVAL OF YOUR COMPENSATION FUND


FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA.
ASO-ROCK VILLA, ABUJA-NIGERIA.
CABLE: XX098887.

URGENT ATTENTION BENEFICIARY:

Our Dear Contractors/Beneficiary.

I'm pleased to let you to know that during the last meetings held at Abuja,
Nigeria, with the President Alhaji, Umaru Musa Yar-dua, the Commander in
chief of armed forces federal republic of Nigeria and U.N. Officials it was
alarmed so much by The world in the meetings on the lose of funds by various
individuals to the Nigerian scams artists operating in syndicates all over
the World today.

In other to abide by the instruction of the world governing Body, the U.N
Body in conjunction with the Nigerian Government we have agreed to
compensate scam victims with the sum of ( $750,000.00 ) each so that they
can be able to get their over due fund this was in accordance with the U.N.
recommendations, and we are now paying over 50 victims this Year 2008, But
due to the corrupt and inefficient Banking Systems in Nigeria, these
payments are to be supervised by the United Nations' Officials and the
Financial Crime Unit of the Federal Republic of Nigeria including, Mr.
Austen I.N. Obigwe, Executive Director (Corporate and International Banking)
which he proceeded to the University of the District of Columbia, Washington
DC for the Master of Business Administration degree specializing in Finance
sector.
According to the number of applicants at hand, 20 Beneficiaries has been
paid, half of them are from the United States, and we still have more than
30 left to be paid, Your particulars were mentioned as one of the victims of
the operations by one of the Syndicates who were arrested; other victims who
have not been contacted can submit their application as well for scrutiny
and possible consideration. You are advised to contact Mr. Austen I.N.
Obigwe, the Union Bank board Director via Email/Telephone to enable you
recieve your fund, Stated bellow is his direct contact information:

Mr. Austen I.N. Obigwe
Board Director Union Bank of Nigeria Plc
Email:austenobigweao@gmail.com <Email%3Aaustenobigweao@gmail.com>
Tel: +234-8028534793

You can receive your compensation payments which will be paid to you via
Certify Bank Draft Payable at sight or through Swift Master Credit Card.
Your earliest compliance is needed, as my Government owns no apology for
cancellation of sending your Draft or Swift Master Credit Card compensation
payment and make sure you tender your real contact informations to the above
contact information for the immediate payments of your compensations fund to
avoid any mistake along the line.

We are really sorry for all the problems and inconveniences this payment
might course you in the past as it was mentioned in the meeting that most
victims where bankrupt today as regards to the money they lost and some
committed sucide when they got to know it was scam and we promise to restore
your life. Victims wives or relation can benefit of this execise.

Be advised that the paying Bank is Union Bank of Nigeria Plc and you are
advised to hurry-up to contact the officer in-charge for the release of your
payment to enable him proceed. Note: You are hereby warned not to
communicate with anybody again accept Mr. Austen I.N. Obigwe or to duplicate
this message for any reason to unknown approved person/officer what so ever
as the U.S. Secret service is already on Trace of the other Criminals. So
keep it secret till they are all apprehended, We are really sorry for all
the problems and inconveniences this payment might course you in the past
and we promise to restore your life.

Long live dear contractor; long live federal Republic of Nigeria.

Best Regards.

Alhaji, Babagana Kingibe.
Secretary Federal Republic of Nigeria.

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