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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: "ALEX OKEKE" <alexokeke2005@msn.com>
Date: Wed, 01 Feb 2006 15:06:06 +0000
Subject: NICE TO MEET YOU

FROM: BARRISTER Alex OKeke
R.D. DOGO & CO;CHAMBERS,
10TH FLOOR;
LE SACRE COUR VILLA;
207 AVENUE HOUPHET BOIGNY;
COTONOU REPUBLIC OF BENIN.

Dear friend,

I Am Barrister Alex Okeke, a solicitor. I am The personal attorney to Engr.
P.M Charles,A national of your country, possibly Could be your brother, who
used to Work with Oando Petroleum Development Company [West Africa],Cotonou
Branch hereinafter shall be referred to as my client. In 2003, my client,
his wife and their two children were involved in a plane crash in a village
called Adjarra near Porto Novou after take off from Cotonou here in Benin
Republic.It was unfortunate that my client and his fanily all lost their
lives in the crash.For more on the plane crash logon to
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3348109.stm

Since then I have made several enquiries at your embassy here in Cotonou and
Porto Novou to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has also
proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to
track his last name over the internet, to locate
any member of his family hence I contacted you. I have contacted you to
assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client
before they get confiscated, frozen or declared unserviceable by the bank
where these huge deposits were lodged.

Particularly,THE AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK INTERNATIONAL where the deceased
had an account valued at about FIVE MILLION NINE HUNDRED UNITED STATE
DOLLARS[USD5.9] The Management has issued me a notice to provide the next Of
kin or have the account frozen within the next twenty Official working days.
Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2 years
now i seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of thedeceased
since you have the same last name so that the proceeds of this account
valued at [USD5.9] can be paid to you and then you and me can share the
money. 60% to me and 40% to you.

I have all the necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any
claim we may make.And this I must do to make sure that this fund is not
Wasted or end up in the wrong hands. All I require is your honest
co-operation to enable us see this deal through. I guarantee that this will
be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any
breach of the law.

I am waiting your urgent reply.
Thanks and god bless you,
BARR.Alex Okeke ESQ.
LEGAL ATTORNEY & SOLICITOR


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