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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: "NNBANK OFFSHORE PAYMENT CENTRE" <nnbpayment@msn.com>
Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2006 12:36:21 +0000
Subject: URGENT!!!

FROM THE DESK OF:
MRS.CATHY SCHOLE
NNBANK OFFSHORE PAYMENT CENTRE.
LONDON.
I am Mrs.Cathy Schole, Auditing Assistant, NNBANK london. I have urgent and very confidential
business proposition for you.
On November 6, 1999, a British Oil consultant/contractor with the Chinese Solid Minerals
Corporation, Lawrence Smith made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit for twelve calendar months,
valued at US$2.3,000,000.00 (Two Million Three hundred thousand Dollars) in a branch bank. 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 Chinese
Solid Minerals Corporation that Mr. Lawrence Smith 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 Mr. Lawrence Smith did not declare any
kin or relations in all his official documents, including his Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank.
This sum of US$2.3,000,000.00 is still sitting in  Bank branch in Africa 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 Laws of the  bank, at the expiration of 5 (five) years, the money will
revert to the ownership of the African Government if nobody applies to claim the fund.
Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in as the next of kin
to Mr. Lawrence Smith so that the fruits of this old man's labor will not get into the hands of
some corrupt government officials. This is simple, I will like you to provide immediately your
full names and address so that the attorney will prepare the necessary documents and affidavits
that will put you in place as the next of kin. We shall employ the services 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
that you will provide will then facilitate the transfer of this money to you as the
beneficiary/next of kin. The money will be paid into your account for us to share in the ratio of
90% for me and 10% for you.
There is no risk at all as all the paperwork for this transaction will be done by the attorney
and my position as the Auditing asssistant Manager guarantees the successful execution of this
transaction. If you are interested, please reply immediately via the private email address below.
Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more details and relevant documents that will
help you understand the transaction. Please send me your confidential telephone and fax numbers
for easy communication.
Please observe utmost confidentiality, and rest assured that this transaction would be most
profitable for both of us because I shall require your assistance to invest my share in your
country.
Awaiting your urgent reply via my email
cathy_schole2005@yahoo.com
phone number +44-703-194-2033
Thanks and regards.
Mrs Cathy Schole,    

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