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: "AHMED HAMZA" <ahmedhamza05@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: ahmed.hamza@mail.ee
Date: Thu, 20 Oct 2005 13:44:48 +0000
Subject: BELIEVE AND TRUST

Mr Ahmed Hamza
Universal Trust Bank Plc
4/6 Ajose Adeogun Street, Victoria Island.
Lagos, Nigeria.
Tel: +234-806-089-8039

I am Mr Ahmed Hamza branch bank account manager of a reputable bank here in
Nigeria. I have an urgent and very confidential business proposition for
you. On June 6, 2001, a foreign oil consultant/contractor with the Nigeria
government, Mr Subhi Abdul Aziz made a number time (fixed) deposit for
twelve calendar months, value at US$26,500,000.00 (twenty six million, five
hundred thousand dollars) in our bank. Upon maturity we sent a routine
notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After a month, we
sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his contract employer (The
Ministry of Trade and Commerce) that Mr.Subhi Abdul Aziz died from an
automobile accident. On further investigation, I found out that he died
without making a WILL, and all attempts to trace his next of kin, was
fruitless. I therefore made further investigation and discovered that he did
not declare any next of kin or relation in all his official documents,
including his bank deposit paperwork in my bank.

The sum of US$26,500,000.00 (twenty six million, five hundred thousand
dollars) is still sitting in our bank and the interest is being rolled over
with the principal sum at the end of each year. No one will ever come
forward to claim it. According to Nigeria law, at the expiration of six
years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Nigeria 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.Subhi Abdul
Aziz.This is simple. I will like you to provide immediately your full names
and address, so that the attorney will prepare the necessary documents,
which will put you in place of the next of kin. We shall employ the service
of an attorney for drafting and notarization of the WILL and to obtain the
necessary documents and letter of probate/administration in your favor, for
the transfer.

A bank account in any part of the world, which you will provide, will then
facilitate the transfer of this money to you as the next of kin. The money
will be paid into your account for us to share it in the ratio of.

1.30% for you as the account owner
2.60% for I and my colleagues
3.10% will be set aside to defray all incidental
expenses both locally and internationally during the
cause of this transaction.

There is no risk involved, as the paperwork for this transaction will be
done by the attorney and my position as the branch manager guarantees the
successful execution of this transaction. If you are interested, please
reply immediately via the Email address.

Please observe utmost confidentiality, and be rest assured that this
transaction would be most profitable for both of us, because I shall require
your assistance in investing my share in your country. I await your reply.

Finally, I will not like any third party to this. Thanks for your
anticipated Cooperation.

Best regards

Mr Ahmed Hamza


Anti-fraud resources: