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: "minougou alen" <m_alen39@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 23 Jun 2005 15:42:37 +0000
Subject: URGENT REPLY NEEDED

FROM THE DESK OF DR MINOUGOU ALEN
AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING UNIT.
BANK OF AFRICA.
(TOP SECRET)
Dear Friend,

I am Dr.Minougou Alen, the director in charge of auditing and accounting
section of Bank of Africa (BOA) Ouagadougou Burkina-faso 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 our investigation and auditing in this bank, my department came
across a very huge sum of money belonging to a deceased person who died on
November2000 in a plane crash 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. The said amount
was U.S $16.2M (Sixteen million two hundred thousand United States dollars).

Meanwhile all the whole arrangement to put claim over this fund as the
bonafide next of kin to the 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(A Banker),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 application of trust of oath to the Bank and also nominate a foreign
account where he will need the money to be transfered into on your request
as it may be after due verification and clarification by the bank.

I will not fail to inform you that this transaction is 100% risk free. On
smooth conclusion of this transaction, you will be entitled to 30% of the
total sum as gratification, while 5% will be set aside to take care of
expenses that may arise during the time of transfer and also telephone
bills, while 65% will be for me. Please, you have been adviced to keep this
"top secret" as I am still in service and intend to retire from service
after we 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 vital information will be sent to you when
I hear from you like text of application which you will re-type and send to
my bank either by fax or bank email for approval to take place.

I look forward to receive your reply immediately.

Yours faithfully,
Dr Minougou Alen
(Director A/A .B.O.A)

_________________________________________________________________
Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today it's FREE!
http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/

Anti-fraud resources: