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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: "leonard shandga" <leonardshandga@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 19 Oct 2005 01:51:54 +0000
Subject:

MR LEONARD SHANOGA
AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING UNIT
FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPT
CREDIT BANK BENIN
COTONOU-BENIN REPUBLIC
WEST AFRICA.
TEL +229-97-87-30-79

MY DEAR ,

I am Mr Leonard Shanoga the director in charge of auditing and accounting
section of Credit Bank Benin Republic in West Africa with due respect and
regard.

I have decided to contact you on a business transaction that will be very
beneficial to both of us at the end of the transaction.

During our investigation and auditing in this bank, my department came
across a very huge sum of money belonging to a deceased person who died on
30th january 2000 on Kenya Airways with aircraft Airbus 310-304 at location
Abidjan, Ivory Coast, with registration number 5Y-BEN while travelling with
his entire family, his wife, two children and a maid on a festive visit to
Abidjan and since his untimely death the funds has been dormant in his
account with this Bank without any claim of the fund in our custody either
from his family or relation before our discovery to this development.

Although personally, I kept this information secret within myself and
partners to enable the whole plans and idea be Profitable and successful
during the time of execution. The said amount was USD$24.1M (twenty four
Million one Hundred Thousand united states dollars).

As it may interest you to know, I got your impressive information through my
good friend who works with chamber of commerce on foreign business relations
here in Cotonou-Benin, it is him who recommended your person to me to be
viable and capable to champion a business of such magnitude without any
problem.

Meanwhile all the whole arrangement to put claim over this fund as the
bonafide next of kin to the deceased and get the required approval and
transfer this money to a foreign account has been put in place, all
directives and needed information will be relayed to you as soon as you
indicate your interest and willingness to assist us and also benefit
yourself to this great business opportunity.

In fact i could have done this deal alone but because of my position in this
country as a civil servant, we are not allowed to operate a foreign account
and would eventually raise an eye brow on my side during the time of
transfer because i work in this bank.

This is the actual reason why it will require a second party or fellow who
will forward claims as the next of kin to the Bank and also present a
foreign account where he will need the money to be re-transferred into on
his request as it may be after due verification and clarification by the
correspondent branch of the bank where the whole money will be remitted
from to your own designated bank account.

May i at this point emphasize that this transaction is100% risk free as i
have made all arrangements for a successful transaction as an insider of the
bank before contacting you.On smooth conclusion of this transaction,you will
be entitled to 30% of the total sum as gratification,while 10% will be set
aside to take care of any expenses that may arise during the time of
transfer like telephone bills, fax and our travel tickets to come over to
your country for the sharing of the fund while 60% will be for me and my
partners.

Please you have been advised to keep this a top secret as we are still in
service and intend to retire from service after we conclude this deal with
you.

I will be monitoring the whole situation here in this bank until you confirm
the money in your account and ask us to come down to your country for
subsequent sharing of the fund according to percentages previously indicated
and further investment either in your country or any country you will advice
us to invest in.

All other necessary information will be sent to you on your acceptance to
champion this transaction with me.

Yours Faithfully,

Mr Leonard Shanoga.


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