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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.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Prosper Butego" <prosperbutego@unionbankmails.net>
Date: Fri, 07 Oct 2005 08:18:00 +0000
Subject: FROM PROSPER BUTEGO(PLEASE GET BACK TO ME IMMEDIATELY YOU RECEIVE THIS MESSAGE)

FROM THE DESK OF
MR.PROSPER BUTEGO
GENERAL MANAGER
UNION BANK PLC
LAGOS NIGERIA
Ref Number: REF: SEIT /26510460037/02

Dear Sir/Madam,

I have a proposal for you, this however is not mandatory nor will I in any
manner compel you to honour against your will. I am Mr Prosper Butego, and I
work with UNION BANK NIGERIA PLC (one of the African leading banks in the
West Coast). Here in this bank existed a dormant account for the past 8
years which belong to an American national Mr Morris Thompson who is now
late and was died in Alaska Airlines Flight 261.

http://archives.cnn.com/2000/US/02/01/alaska.airlines.list/
More details about the deceased himself,you can check on
(http://www.nativefederation.org/history/people/mThompson.html)

When I discovered that there had been no deposits nor withdrawals from this
account for this long period, I decided to carry out a system investigation
and discovered that non of the family member nor relations of the late
person is aware of this account. This is the story in a nutshell. Now I want
an account overseas where the bank will transfer this funds.Thereafter,I had
planned to destroy all related documents for this account. It is a careful
network and for the past eleven months I have worked out everything to
ensure a hitch-free operation. The amount is not so much at the moment and
plus all the accumulated interest the balance in this account stands
at-(US$55.5 million US dollars).

Now my questions are:-
1. Can you handle this project?
2. Can I give you this trust?
Please do send the following information of yours so that we can kick up
this mutual business transaction.
1.Full Name
2.Phone/Fax Number
3.Address.
4.Nationality.
5.Occupation.
6.Date of Birth.

Finally, it is our humble prayer that the information as contained herein be
accorded the necessary attention, urgency as well as the secrecy it
deserves.
I Expect your urgent response if you can handle this project. Do know that
this transaction is 100% risk & hatch free. Thirthy percent of this fund
(30%) will be given to you for your personal assiatance in this
transaction,5% for expenses made during this transaction.

Please if you are interested send your reply immediately you have recieve
this message via this private email address: mail4butegoprosper@myway.com

I am expecting your urgent response as soon as you receive my message.
Respectfully yours,
Mr. Prosper Butego.


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