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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: "joe eze" <joe_eze01@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2006 14:21:36 +0000
Subject: ATTN:MY FRIEND

FROM THE DESK OF Dr Joe Eze
cemac Bank of africa plc.
(bank for International Settlement)
headquarters complex cotonou,
republic of benin.

Dear sir

MY NAME IS Dr Joe Eze

contact me with this email joe_eze11@yahoo.com
Iam the head of Operations cemac Bank of africa plc. Sometime in 1998, a
certain man Mr.kelly smith brought a luggage marked family treasure to me
for safe-keeping in our bank. I met the man in 1998 in America and he
introduced himself as a SHIP CAPTAIN. We became friend more when he realized
my profession,there and then, he informed me about the consignment. However,
I did not take it so serious not until he brought the box to my office.I
assisted him in depositing the treasure and ERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT issued to
him.However,he saw me as someone trustworthy and decided to hand-over the
document to me for safe-keeping. He
left back to his country,though he is always on the Sea being a Sailor. All
our correspondence was through telephone.Our discussion stopped since june
2001 when I called his telephone number, and behold someone else had bought
over the telephone. the new subscriber told me that Mr. kelly smith died
along-side, his wife and only two children at the World Trade Centre during
the BIN-LADEN bomb blast, in America. This news shocked me so much that Mr
kelly Smith did not leave
any of his contact address or next of kin,and since then all plans to trace
any of his relatives proved abortive.

Honestly, I became confused, and resorted to informing my colleague in the
office, who suggested that we should open the box a little to know the
content
proper. The box was carefully opened and GUESS WHAT? BILLS OF THIRTY
MILLIONS UNITED STATE DOLLARS, denomination carefully defaced. I and my
colleague agreed and secretly took the box out from the bank and deposited
it with a security company here. We have concluded plans to invest the money
total thirty million united state dollars $30m(USD) out of cotonou republic
of benin and required an assistance from a Would-be Trustworthy Over-Seas
Partner who will help us receive the money overseas.

If you can assist us, we can arrange and bring the money to your country by
the help of Diplomats, for investment. I and my colleague has agreed to give
you
30% of the total sum. Be rest-assured that the transaction is 100% risk-free
and your urgent response is highly needed. So we cannot look for another
person.
contact me with this email joe_eze11@yahoo.com

Best regards,
Dr Joe Eze


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