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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.

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Fraud email example:

From: BUSINESS <firstbank@gakto.co.uk>
Reply-To: dbi25555@tsamail.co.za
Date: Sat, 18 Jun 2005 14:39:10 +0100
Subject: FIRST BANK PLC.

Dear Friend
It is my humble pleasure and trust, I write this very
important letter to you, considering you are capable
and kind enough to assist us in this understated
business proposal.I am just trying to know if you can
be of help,irrespective of the fact that we didn't
know each other before or have met for the first time
in life. I came across your contact via international
profile in my earnest searching for a truthful/honest
person to handle this business with us. Firstly,
I must solicit your strictest confidentiality in this
transaction,this is by virtue of its nature as being
top secret and confidential.I am DON OBI Head of Accounts
Department. First Bank Plc (HQ) Lagos
Nigeria. I know that a transaction of this magnitude
will make someone whom you didn't know for the first
time to feel apprehensive, but be assured that all
will be well with every involved persons at the end of
this business as it is risk free.

THE PROPOSITION
A FOREIGNER, ENGR.MICHAEL CREEK (AN EXPARTRIATE
ENGINEER, who has a domiciliary Account with this
Bank, FIRST BANK NIG. PLC (HQ) foreign operation
unit,was an oil merchant / contractor with The
Federal Government of Nigeria for many years, but for
about 2 years now from 2000 his account was dormat
without saving more money or withdrawing from the
account as it used to be and because of this
development, his account officer MR. HENRY EGOBIA
reported the matter to me as the head of the account
department,and upon this report, I conducted a
personal investigation by sending MR. HENRY to the
address submitted by Engr.Creek as of the time he
opened the said account with us to know the cause or
reason of everything before the matter will be made
known to the bank in general.
But pity he came back with a report to me that Engr.
Creek died some time in 2000 in a ghastly car
accident in Port-Harcourt ,Nigeria Oil heart city
leaving in his account US$20.2m cash. Now I have
informed the bank authorities and board members about
this matter and after many meetings, they resolved
that I should contact the relatives or next of kin on
behalf of the bank, for them to file a letter of
claim,but all efforts by this dept to contact any of
his relatives or next of kin have proved unsuccessful.
His country embassy has tried without success and
wrote to me suggesting that the fund be shared to THE
RED CROSS, CHILD CARE TRUST or MOTHERLESS BABIES HOME
and AIDS ORGANISATION IN AFRICA.In order to prevent
the bank from diverting this fund as unclaimed fund or
sharing it as said by the embassy which I know they
will not do, I and my colleagues MR. HENRY EGOBIA
being MR. THOMAS's account's officer, the bank lawyer,
P.R.O. and the administrative Manager now seek your
assistance for you to stand as the next of kin /
relation of Engr.Michael Creek in claiming this
US$20.2m. All the documents that will enable you cliam
this fund will be carefully provided for you to submit
for the workout of this claim.If this is acceptable to
you, kindly contact me through my private e-mail

ATTENTION: also forward to me your
telephone, fax,mobile number, your full home address
for easy communication as more detail will follow up.
We will be also happy to hear from you, . We have
agreed to part with 20% percentage of the total amount
as your own share of the money for assisting us in
this deal. We shall also map out percentage of this
money to take care of incidental expenses that may
arise in the course of this transaction.
Immediately this fund is being remitted into your
account,note that high degree of trust is required
from you.
Thank you in anticipation of your co-operation.

Awaiting your response urgently.

Regards,
DON OBI
H.O.D. ACCOUNTS DEPT.
FIRST BANK PLC.

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