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 VINCENT ADA" <drvicent_ada@latinmail.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: drvincent_ada@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 27 Apr 2005 15:25:50 +0100
Subject: for only your private

FROM THE DESK OF:
MR VINCENT ADA
ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT
AFRICA OCEANIC BANQUE
1, BOULEVARD LARA DE KARA,
LOME, REPUBLIC OF TOGO
DIRECT LINE: +228 9299860
ALTERNATIVE EMAIL:
drvincent_ada@yahoo.com <mailto:drvincent_ada@yahoo.com>

Dear Friend,

I am Mr Vincent Ada , the director in charge of auditing and accounting section of African Development Banque Lome-Republic of Togo in West Africa with due respect and regard. I have decided to contact you on a business transaction that will be very beneficial to both of us at the end of the transaction.

During my investigation and auditing in this bank, I came across a very huge sum of money belonging to one of our late customer Mr. Morris Thompson who lost his life in the plane crash of Alaska Airlines Flight 261 which crashed on the 31st January 2000, including his wife and only daughter. And the fund has been dormant in his account with this Bank without any claim of the Fund in our custody either from his family or relation before our discovery to this development.
You shall read more about the crash on visiting this site;

<http://www.cnn.com/2000/US/02/01/alaska.airlines.list/> and
<http://www.nativefederation.org/history/people/mThompson.html>.

Since we got information about his death, we have been expecting his next of kin or relatives to come over and claim his money because we cannot release it unless somebody applies for it as next of kin or relation to the deceased as indicated in our banking guidelines.

Unfortunately, I learnt that his supposed next of kin being his only daughter died along with him in the plane crash leaving nobody with the knowledge of this fund behind for the claim. It is therefore upon this discovery that I and two other officials in this department now decided to make business with you and release the money to you as the next of kin or beneficiary of the funds for safety keeping and subsequent disbursement since nobody is coming for it and we don't want this money to go back into Government treasury as unclaimed bill.

The banking law and guidelines here stipulates that such money remained after six years the money will be transferred into banking Treasury as unclaimed funds.
Although personally, I keep this information secret within myself to enable the whole plans and idea be profitable and successful during the time of execution. The said amount was US$14.5M (Fourteen Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars).

As it may interest you to know, I got your impressive information through the business directory at chamber of commerce and Industry here in Lome-Togo where I was searching for a good reliable contact to do the business with. I was elated the time I saw your address to propose the business to you, Meanwhile all the whole arrangement to put claim over this fund as the bonafide next of kin to the late deceased, get the required approval and transfer this money to a foreign account has been put in place and directives and needed information will be relayed to you as soon as you indicate your interest and willingness to assist me and also benefit your self to this great business opportunity.

In fact I could have done this deal alone but because of my position in this country as a civil servant, we are not allowed to operate a foreign account and would eventually raise an eye brow on my side during the time of transfer because I work in this bank. This is the actual reason why it will require a second party or fellow who will forward claims as the next of kin with affidavit of trust of oath to the bank and also present a foreign account where he will need the money to be re-transferred into on his/her request as it may be after due verification and clarification by the correspondent branch of the bank, where the whole money will be remitted from to your own designated bank account.

I will not fail to inform you that this transaction is 100% risk free and legal. On smooth conclusion of this transaction, you will be entitled to 30% of the total sum as gratification, while 10% will be set aside to take care of expenses that may arise during the time of transfer and also telephone bills, while 60% will be for me and my two other colleagues.

Now our questions are:-

Firstly, are you capable of handling this deal?
Secondly, are you capable of sponsoring this deal?
Last but not the least; are you not going to betray our trust?

Please, you have been advised to keep top secret as we are still in service and intend to retire from service after I conclude this deal with you. I will be monitoring the whole situation here in this bank until you confirm the money in your account. And ask me to come down to your country for subsequent sharing of the fund according to percentages previously indicated and further investment, either in your country or any country you advice me to invest in.

All other necessary information will be sent to you when I hear from you. I suggest you get back to me as soon as possible stating your wish in this deal. My telephone number is: +228 9299860
Best Regard,

MR. VINCENT ADA




Anti-fraud resources: