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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: "MR DON" <dobi@d-nutz.com>
Reply-To: dbi25555@tsamail.co.za
Date: Fri, 22 Jul 2005 17:02:15 +0100
Subject: BUSINESS OFFER

Dear Sir,

Before I start by introducing myself, I am aware that this is certainly an unconventional approach to establishing a relationship, but you will realize the reason for my action after going through this email. My name is MR. DON OBI; I work with LEAD MERCHANT BANK in the foreign accounts department. I was the personal account manager to one of our late foreign customer, who was until his death a Contractor to Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)

On the 21st of April 1999, the deceased- MICHAEL CREEK, his wife and their three Children were involved in a car accident along Sagbama express - road. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. Since then I have made several enquiries to his country's embassy so as to locate any of his extended relatives, this has proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, hence I decided to contact you. I am contacting you so as to assist in repatriating the money and possibly the property left behind by the deceased before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank here where the huge deposits were lodged.

The Constitutional provision of the Federal Republic of Nigeria further mandates the deceased account manager or attorney to repatriate the fund if the next of kin from original country of deceased is established in documentation particularly; LEAD MERCHANT BANK, where the MR MICHEAL CREEK had an account valued at over Thirty-Five Million United States Of American dollars (US$35,000,000:00) has issued a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next 21 official working days.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the immediate relatives for over 5 years now, hence I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased since I cannot locate any of his relatives, so I calling attention to provide me with account details where the US$35Million dollars can be transferred into as the only surviving next of Kin to late Mr. Michael Creek. After receipt of the funds in your account fully credited, you can disburse as follows upon my arrival in your Country: -

1. 40% to you.
2. 50% to Me
3. 10% to offset all incurred expense such as Telephone and fax bills, e.t.c.

Every document needed for the approval and release of the funds for payment in your name so that remittance can be effected to the account you will provide for me in your response will be legally secured. With your honest cooperation, every document will be secured through the assistance of an attorney in accordance with the banking law and guidelines in your favor as the next of kin to the deceased.

You accepting my proposal in standing as the next of kin to claim this funds, please indicate by replying this letter and also give me your DIRECT PRIVATE TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS FOR EASY AND CONFIDENTIAL COMMUNICATION BETWEEN YOU & I AT ANY TIME OF THE DAY THAT I WISH TO REACH YOU; YOUR ACCOUNT DETAILS THAT WILL RECEIVE THE FUNDS AS WELL SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN YOUR RESPONSE TO ME. I await your immediate reply to enable us start this transaction.

Thanks for your anticipated assistance and cooperation in this regard.

Yours faithfully,

MR. DON OBI

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