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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: "Mr Robin Hans Clark" <robinclark22@tiscali.co.uk>
Reply-To: robinclark@laksamana.net
Date: Sun, 22 May 2005 07:27:30 -0700
Subject: From: Unity Trust Bank (London)

FROM: UNITY TRUST BANK PLC
THIRD FLOOR/CONGRESS
HOUSE, 23/28 GREAT RUSSELL
ST,SOHO, LONDON, WC1B 3UB
UNITED KINGDOM

REQUEST FOR URGENT TRANSACTION RELATIONSHIP

DEAR SIR/MADAM


FIRST, I MUST SOLICIT YOUR STRICTEST CONFIDENCE IN THIS TRANSACTION. THIS
IS BY VIRTUE OF ITS NATURE AS BEING UTTERLY CONFIDENTIAL AND 'TOP SECRET'.
I AM SURE AND HAVE CONFIDENCE OF YOUR ABILITY AND RELIABILITY TO PROSECUTE
A TRANSACTION OF THIS GREAT MAGNITUDE INVOLVING A PENDING TRANSACTION REQUIRING
MAXIIMUM CONFIDENCE.

IAM A TOP OFFICIAL OF THE UNITY TRUST BANK PLC HERE IN UNITED KINGDOM AND
AN ACCOUNTS SUPERVISOR TO DR ALLEN SMITH WHO IS NOW LATE SINCE LAST THREE
YEARS AGO WITH ANY NEXT OF KIN TO HIS ACCOUNT,NOW I WANT TO TRANSFER THIS
FUNDS WHICH ARE PRESENTLY TRAPPED IN THE BANK HERE. IN ORDER TO COMMENCE
THIS BUSINESS I SOLICIT YOUR ASSISTANCE TO ENABLE ME TRANSFER INTO YOUR ACCOUNT
THE SAID TRAPPED FUNDS.

HOWEVER, BY VIRTUE OF MY POSITION AS CIVIL SERVANT AND MEMBER OF THIS BANK,
I CANNOT ACQUIRE THIS MONEY IN MY NAME. I HAVE THEREFORE, IAM CONTACTING
YOU AS A MATTER OF TRUST IN ORDER TO TRANSFER THE SUM OF US$21,320,000.00(TWENTY
ONE MILLION, THREE HUNDRED AND TWENTY THOUSAND U.S DOLLARS). HENCE IAM WRITING
YOU THIS LETTER. I HAVE AGREED TO SHARE THE MONEY THUS; 1. 20% FOR YOU THE
ACCOUNT OWNER 2. 70% FOR ME 3. 10% TO BE USED IN SETTLING TAXATION AND ALL
LOCAL AND FOREIGN EXPENSES. IT IS FROM THE 70% THAT I WISH TO COMMENCE A
JOINT BUSINESS WITH YOU THERE IN YOUR COUNTRY.

PLEASE,NOTE THAT THIS TRANSACTION IS 100% SAFE AND I HOPE TO FINISH THE TRANSFER
LATEST SEVEN (7) BANKING DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THE RECEIPT OF THE FOLLOWING
INFORMATIONS: YOUR FULL NAME AND ADDRESS, PHONE AND FAX NUMBER, BANK DETAILS
AND YOUR STATUS THE ABOVE INFORMATIONS WILL ENABLE ME WRITE LETTERS OF CLAIM
AND NEXT OF KIN DESCRIPTION RESPECTIVELY. THIS WAY WE WILL USE YOUR NAME
TO APPLY FOR PAYMENT AND RE-AWARD THE BENEFICARY IN YOUR NAME AS THE NEXT
OF KIN TO THE LATE BENEFICIARY.
IAM LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING THIS BUSINESS WITH YOU AND SOLICIT YOUR CONFIDENTIALITY
IN THIS TRANSATION. PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE THE RECEIPT OF THIS LETTER USING THE
ABOVE EMAIL ADDRESS . I WILL SEND YOU DETAILED INFORMATION OF THIS PENDING
PROJECT WHEN I HAVE HEARD FROM YOU.
YOURS FAITHFULLY,

MR ROBIN HANS CLARK





___________________________________________________________

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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