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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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: leonbann <leonbann@tatanova.com>
Date:
Subject: From Leon

FROM: MR.LEON BANNAU

DEAR SIR/MADAM,

I AM MR.LEON BANNAU, THE ACCOUNTANT GENERAL OF NEDBANK OF SOUTH AFRICA.
I REQUEST YOUR CO-OPERATION IN THE TRANSFER OF MONEY AMOUNTING TO U.S.D.
32 MILLION.
ON SEPTEMBER 1999, AN AMERICAN PILOT, MR. ROY KENOB,AN AMERICAN NATIONAL
MADE A FIXED DEPOSIT OF U.S D 32MILLION IN NED BANK OF SOUTH AFRICA. ON
MATURITY I SENT A ROUTINE NOTIFICATION TO HIS FORWARDING ADDRESS BUT GOT NO
REPLY. AFTER A MONTH, I SENT A REMINDER AND FINALLY HIS EMPLOYERS WROTE TO
INFORM US THAT MR.KENOB DIED IN A PLANE CRASH, THAT HE DIED WITHOUT MAKING A
WILL WHILE OUR ATTEMPT TO TRACE HIS NEXT OF KIN THROUGH AMERICAN EMBASSY
PROVED FRUITLESS.
WHEN HE WAS MAKING DEPOSITION IN MY BANK, HE DID NOT DECLARE HIS NEXT OF
KIN IN HIS DEPOSIT APPLICATION FORM, WHEN I REMINDED HIM HE SAID HE WISHED
IT SO, IN THE CONSERVATIVE MANNER OF OUR BANK, I DID NOT TURN DOWN HIS
REQUEST RATHER HONOR IT CONSIDERING HIS HIGH NET WORTH. THE POINT IS THAT HIS
EMPLOYER ARE NOT AWARE OF HIS DEPOSIT WITH US, THEREFORE I AM THE ONLY PERSON
WHO KNOW ABOUT MR.ROY'S DEPOSIT OF U.S.D32,000,000.00 WHICH IS NOW LYING IN
DORMANT ACCOUNT PORTFOLIO, THE WHOLE ACCOUNT RELATING TO MR.KENOB'S DEPOSIT IS
ALSO WITH ME.
I AM LOOKING FORWARD FOR A FOREIGNER WHO WILL STAND IN AS THE NEXT OF
KIN TO MR. ROY. I HAVE WORKED OUT MODALITIES OF ACHIEVING MY AIM BY
APPOINTING YOU AS THE NEXT OF KIN TO MR.ROY AS WELL AS TRANSFER THE U.S.D
32,000,000.00 ABROAD FOR US TO SHARE. I WILL USE AN ATTORNEY WHO WILL REPRESENT YOU
AS THE BENEFICIARY TO EXECUTE SERIES A WRITTEN WILL AND ATTESTAMENT OF
LATE MR. ROY KENOB, IN SUPPORT OF YOUR CLAIM INCLUDING CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN
OF THE MONEY, LETTER OF PROBATE WHICH EMPOWERS YOU AS THE SOLE
TRUSTEE/EXECUTOR TO THE ESTATE OF MR. ROY KENOB. PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU WILL NOT BE
REQUIRED TO SIGN ANY TRANSFER DOCUMENT, AS THE APPOINTED ATTORNEY WILL DO ALL
THAT.
IF YOU AGREE TO ACT AS THE NEXT OF KIN/BENEFICIARY TO ENABLE ME
TRANSFER/CONVERT THE MONEY TO OUR OWN BENEFIT/USE. I WILL GIVE YOU 30% OF USD32 M, 60%
WILL BE FOR ME WHILE 10% WILL BE TO TAKE CARE OF ALL UNFORESEEN EXPENSES AS
WE MAY INCURE IN THE COURSE OF CONCLUDING THIS TRANSACTION.
I AM URGENTLY WAITING FOR YOUR POSITIVE REPLY.

REGARDS,

MR.LEON BANNAU


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