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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr Ozor Mekuma" <cybercafe40@yahoo.co.in> (may be fake)
Reply-To: mr_uzor@yahoo.co.in
Date: Fri, 12 Nov 2004 15:59:49 -0800
Subject: REQUEST FROM BANK REACH ME NOW

From: Mr,Ozor Mekuma
Union Bank, Nigeria plc
Email: mr_uzor@yahoo.co.in

Dear Friend/Prospective Partner,
Greetings to you, With warm heart I offer my friendship, and greetings,and I hope this mail meets
you in good time. However, strange or surprising this contact might seem to you as we have not

met personally or had any dealings in the past, I humbly ask that you take due consideration of

its importance and the immense benefit it will be to us.
After careful consideration with my partner we resolved to contact you for your most needed

assistance in this manner.
I duly apologize for infringing on your privacy, if this contact is not acceptable to you, as I

make this proposal to you as a person of integrity.
I am Mr,Ozor Mekuma, I work as the Manager, Bills and Exchange with Union Bank of Nigeria PLC and

have urgent and very confidential business proposal for you.
In June 8, 1999, an America Oil consultant/contractor, Mr.Charles Ballassi who works with the

Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, deposited funds with us, his bankers, the Union Bank of

Nigeria PLC to the tune of US$12,500,000.00 United States Dollars.
He died in the plane crash of 31 October 1999 with the Wife He died alongside with other

passengers aboard without leaving any relations as his wife died as well in the same plane crash.

I have tried several years after his death to trace any of his relations that might come over to

claim the funds deposited with us as his next of kin but found none.
I then met with his attorney who reliably informed me that the Deceased did not declare any next

of kin or relations in all his official documents.
It was at this point that I recontacted the attorney of the deceased so that we can look for

means to work together as partners to look for a foreigner that we can trust who will not betray

us as partners that will claim this money.
This is due to the fact that, the Nigerian law on such deposits with Commercial Banks states

that, at the expiration of (five)years, the entire funds will be reverted to the ownership of the
State or Government.

Consequently,my proposal to you is that I want you as a foreigner to stand as the next of kin to

the deceased as our oportunity, so that the funds will not be claimed by some other Government
officials here to get themselves rich.
This is simple,as we have maaped out all modalities for a smooth and hitch free transaction as

soon as you indicate your corporation.
I will like you to provide immediately your full names, address, telephone and fax numbers so

that can
proceed prepare the necessary documents which will put you in place as the next of kin.
A bank account in any part of the world which you will provide will then facilitate the transfer

of this money to you as the beneficiary/next of kin.
The money will be paid into your account for us to share in the ratio of 60% for me, 40% for you.

There is no risk at all as all the paperwork for this transaction will be done legally
and with my position in the bank, guarantees the successful execution of this transaction. If you

are interested, please reply immediately via email address above.Upon your response, I shall then

provide you with more details that will help you understand the transaction.
Upon the receipt of this mail message, send to me the following,to enable us start the process:
1. Your full Names and contact address.
2. Your private Telephone, cell and fax numbers.
3. A copy of your international passport or any other
form of valid identification Immediately I receive a mail via my
private indicating your interest.

please observe utmost confidentiality, and rest assured that this transaction would be most

profitable for both of us because I shall require your assistance to invest my share in your
country.

Thanks and regards,
Mr,Ozor Mekuma
Manager,Bills and Exchange
Union Bank



Anti-fraud resources: