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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: "james ibaro" <prince_jamesfb@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2005 15:01:54 +0000
Subject: Urgent Reply

Dear Sir,

I am Prince James Irabo. from the First Bank of Nigeria Plc,Lagos
Branch.I got your contact through the internet, I have urgent and very
confidential business proposal for you.On January 7, 1999, an America Oil
consultant/contractor with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation,Mr.
Charles Ballassi made a numbered time (fixed) deposit for twelve calendar
months, valued at US$9,700,000.00(Nine Million Seven Hundred Thousand
Dollars)in my branch upon maturity. I sent a rountine notification to his
forwarding address but got no reply. After a month,we sent a reminder and
finally we discovered from his contract employers,the Nigerian National
Petroleum Corporation that Mr.Charles Ballassi died in the plane crash of 31
October 1999[with Egyptian 990] with other passengers aboaed as you can
confirm it yourself via the

website below: http://www.cnn.com/us/9911/02/egyptair990.list/index.html

on further investigation, I found out that he died without making a WILL,
and attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless. I therefore made
further investigation and discovered that Mr. Charles Ballassi did not
declare any next of kin or relations in all his official documents,
including his bank deposit paperwork in my bank. This sum of US$9,700,000.00
is still in my bank and the interest is being rolled over with the pricipal
sum at the end of each year. No one will ever come forward to claim it.
According to Nigerian law, at the expiration of (Six)years, the money will
revert to the ownership of the Nigerian Government if nobody applies to
claim the fund. Consequently,my proposal is that I will like you as a
foreigner to stand as the next of kin to Mr. Charles Ballassi so that the
fruit of this old man's labour will not get into the hands of some corrupt
Government officials. This is simple, I will like you to provide immediately
your full name and address so that the Attorney will prepare the necessary
documents and affidavits which will put you in place as the next of kin.We
shall employ the service of two attorney for the drafting and notarization
of the WILL and obtain the necessary documents and letter of
probate/administration in your favour for the transfer. Any bank account in
any part of the world which you will provide will then facilitate the
transfer of this money to you as the beneficiary/next of kin. The money will
be paid into your account for us to share in ratio of 60% for me and 40% for
you. There is no risk at all, the paperwork for this transaction will be
done by the attorney and my position as the Branch Manager guarantees the
successful execution of ths transaction. If you are interested,please reply
immediately via the private email address below,upon your responce,i shall
provide you with more details and relevant documents that will help you
understand the transaction. Please observe utmost confidentiality and be
rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for both of us
because i shall require your assitance to invest my share in your country.
Please upon the reciept of this mail message, send to me the following to
enable start the process of the fund into your bank account:

1. Your full Name and address
2. The name of your bank where you want the fund to be transfered into,
Account number and beneficiary
3. Your private Telephone and fax numbers
Awaiting your urgent reply via my email:
Thanks and regards,
Prince James Irabo.
MANAGER,FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA PlC.


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