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.

 

 

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

Fraud email example:

From: "victoria fatou" <victoriafatousankoh99@msn.com>
Date: Mon, 10 Oct 2005 10:10:37 +0000
Subject: FROM MRS VICTORIA FATOU SANKOH

Dear Sir,

I do hope my letter will not embarrass you since there was no previous
Correspondence held with you. By getting your address is the handwork of the
almighty God. Since then, I have been very much hopeful that you will assist
us irrespective of the fact that the present world is full of dishonesty and
distrust.

Firstly, I will wish to introduce myself. I am Mrs.VICTORIA FATOU SANKOH,
from Sierra Leone; I am the wife of, CPL FODAY SANKOH. My husband was the
Leader of the Revolutionary United Front until he was dethroned and arrested
early last year by President TEJAN KABBAH who later handed him over to the
United Nations war crime tribunal were he later died in detention. As a
result of this position in the government, my son (SAM SANKOH) and l tried
and later succeeded in securing some of his assets, which include mansions
and physical cash. This is to avoid the present government from confiscating
his entire property.

We left Sierra Leone to Nigeria with the total amount US$15.5 Million
(Fifteen Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) only, which we
Brought to NIGERIA and deposited same with UNION BANK PLC of Nigeria as
valuable documents belonging to our foreign affiliate. After depositing the
money, my family and I were asked to leave NIGERIA and was made public on
NIGERIA National Headlines, we were left with no option than to seek refuge
in my homeland in Sierra Leone. The BANK later asked me, to come and claim
the consignment immediately to avoid the money being confiscated.

I arrived here a couple of days ago and through a good contact l applied for
a refugee status as an asylum seeker, which is still pending in Foreign
Affairs Department. The problem now is that because of our status, we cannot
risk moving the money without help hence I am looking for a trustworthy
partner, who can help me move this money out of NIGERIA. In that case, I
want to know if you can help me transfer the fund into your account in your
country or elsewhere since time is not on my side.

As a widow of six children I need your urgent attention to this matter. It
is true that we have neither met nor known each other before, but the
information I gathered of your credibility makes me believe that with trust
and honesty we will achieve a huge success in about a week. I will also
leave with you from NIGERIA to your country immediately the money goes into
your account.

For your noble assistance and well assured of safeguarding the whole Fund
under your care, I will offer you 40% of the total sum, while 10% will be
set aside for expenses incurred on the cause of this transaction by both
parties, while the remaining %50 will be for me and my family. I want to
assure you that this business is completely risk free because every
arrangement has been made for a successful deal.

I expect your immediate response so that we can conclude the Transaction in
the very shortest time. It is very important that you keep this business
HIGHY CONFIDENTIAL because I do not want anything to happen to this fund.

Thanks and God bless.

Best regards,

Mrs.Victoria F Sankoh


Anti-fraud resources: