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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: "michael" <michael_0002@tiscali.co.uk>
Reply-To: michael_lio2@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 1 Apr 2005 11:39:06 +0100
Subject: TRUSTING YOU

STANDARD TRUST BANK PLC
EASTERN REGIONAL
HEADQUATERS
NO 50 WEST AVENUE
LAGOS NIGERIA

I AM THE BANK MANAGER OF STANDARD TRUST BANK PLC OF NIGERIA.I WILL LIKE TO
DO A VERY BRIEF BUSINESS ITH YOU, THERE IS A DORMANT ACCOUNT IN MY BANK,
WITH A CREDIT BALANCE OF (USD$2.300.000.00) TWO MILLION THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND
UNITED STATE DOLLARS, WHICH HAS BEEN DORMANT FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS NOW. ON
MY FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I DISCOVERED THAT THE OWNER OF THIS ACCOUNT, A
FOREIGNER (Mr. Robert SMith) WHO DIED FIVE YEARS AGO IN A MOTOR ACCIDENT,
INCEDENTALLY HE SHARE'S THE SAME SURNAME WITH YOU AND THAT HE LEFT NO BENEFICIARIES
AND NEXT OF INFOR THE ACCOUNT, BECAUSEHE WAS HIDING THE SOURCE OF THE MONEY
FROM HEGOVERNMENT.

WHAT I NEEDED FROM YOU IS TO USE YOU NAME AS THE BENEFICIARY AND NEXT OFKIN
TO THE ORIGINAL ACCOUNT OWNER AND THEN USE MY POSITION AS THE MANAGER AND
GIVE CLEARANCE FOR ONWARD REMISSION OF THIS FUND INTO YOUR NOMINATED ACCOUNT.I
WILL SUPPLY YOU WITH ALL THE NECESSARYINFORMATION ABOUT THE ACCOUNT, WHICH
YOU WILLPRESENT TO THE BANK THROUGH A LAWYER.

AFTER THE BANK HAS ACCEPTED YOUR APPLICATION, THEN I WILLMOVE AHEAD TO DESTROY
EVERY DOCUMENT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS BUSINESS. ANDWE WILL GO AHEAD TO SHARE
HIS FUND AT RATIO 20 AND 70 PERCENT, 25% FOR YOUR SERVICES TO ME AND 70%
FOR ME, THE REMAINING 5% WILL BE SET ASIDE FOR ANY EXPENSES INCURRED DURING
THISTRANSACTION PLEASE YOUR URGENT REPLY IS NEEDED SO AS TO STOP FURTHER
CONTACTS. THIS IS FOR PEOPLE WHO KNOW THE VALUE OF BANKING SYSTEM.

KINDLY INCLUDE YOUR TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS.

BEST REGARD
THANKS.
MR.MICHAEL LIO


___________________________________________________________

Book yourself something to look forward to in 2005.
Cheap flights - http://www.tiscali.co.uk/travel/flights/
Bargain holidays - http://www.tiscali.co.uk/travel/holidays/



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