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

Fraud email example:

From: "Ben Cole" <bn_cle@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 09 Oct 2005 14:08:00 -0700
Subject: BUSINESS PROPOSAL

Hello,
Warm Greeting to you my friend. I offer my friendship, and my
greetings, and I hope this letter meets you in good time.
It will be surprising to you to receive this proposal from me since you
do not know me personally. However, I am sincerely seeking your
confidence in this transaction, which I propose with my free mind and
as a person of integrity.
My name is Mr. Ben Cole from Nigeria, I am the Managing Director of
Royal Trust Bank Nigeria, and have held this position for the past 2
years. I recently noticed that a company based in the US owed my bank
the sum of $500.000 (five hundred thousand dollars) when they came to
sponsor
a project here in Nigeria during the Military regime 12 years ago.
During the military regime, the bank, went dormant for 2 years and
resurfaced 5 years ago, after coming back up, however they had lost
some record of the banking affairs including that of this company.
When I found out, i contacted the company and told them they'ld be sued
to the court of law for making away with $500.000 they owed, but they
requested not to be taken to the court and would like to settle the
matter out of court. However none of the bank staff nor the bank
mamagement know about this money. I want to claim this money for myself
without
the knowledge of the bank, but i cannot do that on my own, as i need
you to stand in as the banks foreign beneficiary in the usa, they'll pay
the money to you and you take 40% which is $200.000 (two hundred
thousand dollars) and send me the rest $300.000 (three hundred thousand
dollars).
I got your email address through my quest and research,and i believe
that you must be a trustworthy person and that is why I want you to be
a part of this with me.
I would be happy and grateful if you accept my offer as i await your
urgent response.
Contact me on this email: ben_dcole@yahoo.co.uk
Thanks for your understanding and cooperation.
Mr Ben Cole (M.D. Royal Trust Bank)


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