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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: "madu chris" <chrismaduz@msn.com>
Reply-To: chrismadux@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Thu, 20 Oct 2005 12:58:10 +0000
Subject: YOUR ABLE ASSISTANCE

From: The Desk Of Mr.Chris Madu
Auditing And Accounting Unit.
Union Bank of Nigeria Plc.
16 Marina,Lagos, Nigeria.

GREETINGS,

Compliment of the day and how is life generally with you? Of course it
is my humble wish to solicit and crave your indulgence to make this
project request for a joint business transaction which I hope will not
come to you as a surprise, hence I plead for your pardon.
I am Mr.Chris Madu,the Auditing and Accounting Unit,Foreign operations
Department Union Bank Of Nig,PLC Marina Lagos and I have an urgent and
confidential business proposal which you might be intrested in;

On February 30th,2002,Engr.Steve Moore made a(fixed)deposit of
US$15.500.000.00(Fiften Million Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars) in
my branch. On maturity, I sent a routine notification to his forwarded
address but got no reply after months we sent a reminder and finally
we discovered from his contract employee Empire Construction
Corporation (ECC)that Late Engr.Steve Moore died from an automobile
accident. On further investigation it was clear that he died without
making a will. All attempts by the Australian to trace his next of kin
were fruitless.
I therefore made further inquireries and discovered that Late
Engr.Steve Moore did not declare any next of kin or relations in all
his official documents including his deposit document in my bank. The
total sum of US$15,500,000.00 is still in my bank as dormant acct. No
one will ever come forward to claim it. According to Nigerian banking
law, after five years,the money will revert into the account of the
Nigerian Government.That is , If the account owner is certified death and
nobody comes forward to claim it.
This is the situation , and my proposal is that I need a reliable someone,a
foreigner who will stand in as the beneficiary/next of kin.
Someone who will lay a trust worthy proof first, before any step in this
transaction is taken.
I have decided after a deep thoughts to share the sum on the ratio of 70%
and 30%
There is no risk involved. I am using my position and connection
in the bank here to do all the document work for the transaction. We
shall employ the services of an attorney to obtain all necessary
documents and letter of administration in your favour for the
transfer.
This transaction is risk free guaranteed.
Reply this letter giving me some reasons to have a deal with you because i
know
this will make a great change to our lives positively and can as well land
me into a big
trouble if a great care is not taking.

I await your urgent reply.

Best regards,

Mr.Chris Madu


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