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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "frank williams" <frankwilli55@msn.com>
Reply-To: frankwilliams@takemail.com
Date: Sat, 05 Nov 2005 10:03:32 +0000
Subject: REQUEST

FROM:MR.FRANK WILLIAMS,
ACCOUNT DEPARTMENT
UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC
MARINA- BRANCH, LAGOS
 
Attn:(CEO)
 
This mail will definitely be coming to you as a surprise, but I must crave your indulgence to introduce myself to you.
 
I am MR FRANK WILLIAMS A SENIOR ACCOUNTANT WITH THE UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC. MARINA BRANCH OFFICE LAGOS.,  Nigeria. I have an urgent and confidential business proposal for you. However I got your contact through the International web directory.

On March 11th, 1999, a Foreign oil merchant/Contractor with the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIAN ,LATE ENGINEER JEFFREY LANDERCASPER, made a numbered time(Fixed) Deposit for twelve (12) calendar months,valued at US$US$25.5M  (Twenty-Five Million Five hundred Dollars)in my branch. Upon maturity, I 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 employers,THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM COPORATION that LATE ENGINEER JEFFREY LANDERCASPER died from an AIR CRASH IN AN EGYPTIAN AIRLINE.
 
On further investigation,I found out that he died without making a WILL and all attempts to trace his NEXT OF KIN was friutless. I therefore made further investigation and discovered that LATE ENGINEER JEFFREY LANDERCASPER did not declare any KIN OR RELATIONS IN ALL HIS OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING HIS BANK DEPOSIT PAPER WORK IN MY BANK.
 
This sum of US$US$25.5M  is still sitting in my Bank and the interest is being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year. NO PERSON WILL EVER COME FOWARD TO CLAIM IT.
 
According to NIGERIAN LAW, at the expiration of 6(six) YEARS, the money will revert to the ownership of the NIGERIAN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IF NOBODY APPLIES TO CLAIM THE FUND.
 
Consequently, my proposal is that I WANT YOU TO STAND IN AS THE NEXT OF KIN/BENEFICIARY OF THIS FUND. So that the fruits of this old man’s labour will not get into the hands of some corrupt government officials.
 
What we are going to do is simple.You have to provide the following information.
 
1; YOUR FULL NAMES AND ADDRESS.
2; YOUR PRIVATE PHONE AND FAX NUMBERS.
3; YOUR BANKING INFORMATION.
4;  DATE OF BIRTH.   
5; OCCUPATION
 
We shall use these information to prepare DOCUMENTS AND AFFIDAVITS, THROUGH AN ACCREDITED ATTORNEY REPRESENTING YOU AS THE NEXT OF KIN/BENEFICIARY OF THIS FUND DEPOSIT.
 
We shall need the services of the Attorney for the DRAFTING AND NOTARISATION OF THE WILL,AND FOR OBTAINING ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS AND LETTER OF PROBATE/ADMINISTRATION IN YOUR FAVOUR FOR THE TRANSFER OF THE FUND into an account you will provide.
 
For your assistance, you will be adequately compensated with 30%) of the total sum. (65%) will be my own share while (5%) will be set aside to cover any incidental expenses made both at home and abroad before conclusion of this deal.
 
This transaction is 100% risk free as the paper work will be done by the Attorney and my position as the Branch Accountant guarantees the successful execution. If you are interested in assisting me in this transaction,please reply immediately via my email under.Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more details and relevant documents that will help you understand this transaction better.
 
Please realise that the confidentiality of this arrangement must be maintained from now, and even after the successful complition of this transaction.I will meet with you in your country for disbursement after the fund has been released to you and also to discuss investment potentials as I will like to invest in your country with your assistance.
 
Thank you.
 
Regards,
MR FRANK WILLIAMS.

Anti-fraud resources: