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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: "Edward" <ed_sankon@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: edward_sank@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2006 13:21:31 +0000
Subject: GREETING FROM EDWARD

DEAR SIR,

I AM MR.EDWARD.S.SANKO. THE SON OF MR.FODAY SANKO,
LEADER OF REVOLUTIONARY UNITED FRONT {A.K.A RUF}IN
SIERRA-LEONE. THOGUH IT HAS BEEN BANNED.


NOTE THAT BEFORE THE START OF THE CRISIS IN
SIERRA-LEONE, WE, THE FAMILY MEMBERS OF MR.FODAY SANKO
WERE TAKEN TO DAKAR-SENEGAL AND WE ARE STILL IN
SENEGAL. DURING THE CRISIS THERE WAS NO WEEK OUR
FATHER WOULD NOT VISIT SENEGAL AND HE ALWAYS COMES
WITH CONSIGNMENTS WHICH HE DEPOSITED WITH SECURITY AND
TRUST COMPANY; I USED TO ACCOMPANY HIM TO THE
SECURITY COMPANY EACH TIME HE COMES.
INITIALLY, MY FATHER DID NOT DISCLOSED WHAT THE
CONTENT OF THE CONSIGNMENTS ARE TO ME, BUT HE LATER
REVEALED THE CONTENTS AND IT COMES TO BE THAT SOME OF
THE CONSIGNMENTS CONTAINED DIAMONDS AND OTHER HARD
CURRENCIES. HE ALSO EXPLAINED TO ME THAT HARD
CURRENCIES WERE DONORS FROM FOREIGN PARTNERS/FRIENDS
WHO SUPPORTED THE CAUSE.

BEFORE HIS ARREST BY THE UNITED NATIONS PEACE KEEPING
FORCES, HE CAME TO SENEGAL WITH CONSIGNMENTS, BUT THIS
TIME THE CONSIGNMENTS CONTAINED ONLY HARD CURRENCIES
AND HE CHANGED THE FORMER PROCEDURE AND LEFT.

INFACT, THE WHOLE DOCUMENTS PARTAINING THE DEPOSITE OF
THE HARD CURRENCIES WAS SIGNED AND SEALED IN THE
SECURITY COMPANY WITH MY NAME AND SIGNATURE.

SO, ALL VITAL DOCUMENTS ARE IN MY CARE AND NO OTHER
PERSON AMONGST HIS FOLLOWERS AND HIS SUPPORTERS ARE
AWARE OF THIS IDEA.

TO CUT THE WHOLE STORY SHORT, I HAVE DISCUSSED WITH MY
MOTHER OVER THE HARD CURRENCIES IN THE SECURITY
COMPANY AND WE HAVE RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY TO MAKE THIS
CONTACT WITH YOU TO KEEP THE HARD CURRENCIES IN YOUR
CUSTODY; THE ACTUAL AMOUNT INVOLVED IS
$3.500,000.000{THREE MILLION,FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND
UNITED STATE DOLLARS ONLY}.

IN THE PROPER VIEW OF THE ABOVE THEREFORE, OUR FAMILY
IS EANERSTLY SOLICITING FOR YOUR HELP IN THIS MATTER
BY HANDING THE CURRENCIES OVER TO YOUR CARE FOR
SAFETY.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, I NEED THE FOLLOWING INFORMATIONS
FROM YOU TO ENABLE ME TO FACILITATES THE DOCUMENTATION
REQUIRED BEFORE THE FINAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE
OFFICIAL HAND OVER OF THE CURRENCIES TO YOU.

THE INFORMATIONS AS FOLLOWS:
A - YOUR FULL NAME AND ADDRESS.
B - YOUR PHONE AND FAX NUMBER

I AM LOOKING FORWARD HEARING FROM YOU SOONEST .
THANKS FOR YOUR ANTICIAPTED COOPERATIONS WHILE
COUNTING ON YOUR UNDERSTANDING.YOU CAN REACH THROUGH TELEPHONE NUMBER 002216635904

YOURS FAITHLY,
MR.EDWARD SESSE SANKO.



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