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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: "Elvis Izormo" <elvis_izo@msn.com>
Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2006 19:45:34 +0000
Subject: HELLO MY GOOD FRIEND...

Dear Friend,
Good Day With warm heart I offer my friendship,and greetings,and I hope this mail meets you in good time.However strange or surprising this contact might seem to you,as we have not meet personally or had any dealings in the past, I humbly ask that you take due consideration of its importance and immense benefit.I write to seek your cooperation as my foreign partner and your assistance to enable me to own properties and invest in the stable economy in your country. I apologize if this mail does not suit your personal or business ethics. Please, this is a matter of urgency and I need your assistance very urgent.
 
I am Dr ELVIS IZORMO, The Director in charge of auditing and
accounting unit in the Union Bank of Nigeria Plc. I am writing in respect of our foreign customer of my bank with account number: 10-311-74450944/ubn/b, the Late Mr Robert Fitzpatrick was an oil merchant/contractor with the Federal Government of Nigeria and resides here in Nigeria not until his untimely death seven years ago in ghastly plane crash with His wife Mrs. Sharon Fitzpatrick in the plane crash of OCTOBER 31,1999{ with Egyptian airline 990} with other passengers aboard as you can confirm it your self at this webpage:
http://www.bromike.com/departed/egypt.html
Since the demise of this our customer, we have made several enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I also personally watched with keen interest to see the next of kin but all has proved abortive as no one has come to claim his funds of USD$8.5Million
(Eight Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) which has
been with my branch for a very long time.On this note, I decided to seek for whom his name shall be used as the Next of Kin as no one has come up to be the next of kin. And our banking
ethicshere does not allow such money to stay more than six years. I will use
my exalted position in this Bank to present you as his Next of Kin and as his friend or Cousin and this sum of (US$8.5Million) will be Successfully transfered into your own bank
account in your country.
 
The request of foreigner as next of kin in this
business is occassioned by the fact that the customer was a foreigner and anybody
from my country can not stand as next of kin to a foreigner and In fact I
could have done this deal alone but because of my position in this country as
a civil servant (A Banker),we are not allowed to operate a foreign
account and would eventually raise an eye brow on my side during the time of
transfer because I work in this bank. I will not fail to inform you that this
transaction is 100% risk free. On smooth conclusion of this transaction, you will be entitled to 30% of the total sum.There is no risk at all, the paperwork for this transaction will be
done by our Attorney and with my position as the Director in charge of auditing and
accounting unit in the Union Bank, the successful execution of this
transaction is 100 percent safe quaranteed as i will back you up throughout
the period process till the funds finally been remitted into your account.
Upon the receipt of your response, I will send you the Next of Kin
application for claim which you will fill in (BLOCK LETTERS) with all
necessary details needed for the transfer of the funds into your
account.
 
I will not fail to bring to your notice that this business is hitch
free and that you should not entertain any fear as all modalities for fund
transfer can be finalized within eight banking days.I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the
law.Please, you have been adviced to keep "top secret" and confidential for the third party may jeopardice the sucesse of this transaction.As the case may be, I am still in
service and intend to retire from service after we conclude this deal with you.
I will be monitoring the whole situation here in this bank until you
confirm the money in your account and ask me to come down to your country for
subsequent sharing of the fund according to percentages previously indicated
and further investment, either in your country or any country you advice me
to invest in. All other necessary vital information will be sent to you
when I hear from you.Kindly send me e-mail at:(elvis_izo@yahoo.com) with your direct personal telephone and fax numbers so that we can discuss more on this matter.I sincerely look forward to hearing from you soonest.
Thank you and may God continue to bless you and your family.
Best regards,
Dr ELVIS IZORMO

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