joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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: "Koffi" <judekoffi2005@yahoo.fr> (may be fake)
Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2006 14:02:52 +0100
Subject: Thank you and may God bless you

Dear ,
During the heat of the civil war in my country -Cote D'Ivoire ,almost all government offices, operations and parastatals were attacked and vandalized. The Cote D' Ivoire Cocoa Corporation was in like manner loathed and burnt down to ashes, where and when Cocoa worth millions of dollars were stolen by the invading rebel/military forces who attacked many public offices/departments.
Many top government officials and senior army officers were selected and assassinated including my father who was a key target because of his very sensitive military position and appointment in my country. Regreatably, my father late General AlexanderKoffi was then captured and murdered along with his half brother in cold-blood during a mid-night rebel shoot-out when our official residence in Abidjan was ambushed by the notorious rebel leader.
My name is Master Jude Koffi the only surviving Son of the above named Late General Alexandar Koffi a former military chieftain and then acting General co-ordinator of the Cote D'Ivoire Cocoa cooperation. I am contacting you to seek your kind assistance to transfer and invest US$8.5 million belonging to my late father which he deposited in a security company here in Abidjan. This money is revenues from solid minerals and Cocoa sales which were made during my father's tenure immediately before the out-break of hostilities in my country.
My mother sustained bullet injuries during that fateful night which resulted to her untimely and painful death in a private hospital here in Ivory Coast. Now I am alone as an orphan in country without parents, relatives or any body to care for me at this tender age. Before my mother died, she secretly told me that my father deposited some money which he made from Cocoa sales and contracts in one of the security company here in Ivory Coast and that I should look for a trustworthy foreign- business-partner who would help me to transfer and invest this money in profitable business venture overseas.
She told me to do this quickly so that I can leave Ivory Coast with a junior-cousin brother- who is here in the camp with me and, then settle down abroad. She gave me the security company documents to prove the deposit and then told me that my father used my name as the only son to deposit the money in the security company .
My mother died afterwards. May her spirit rest in perfect peace.
I have gone to the security company to make inquires about this money and I spoke with the Manager of International remittance who assured me that everything is intact and promised to help me transfer this money to my foreign partners bank account as soon as I provide my partners foreign bank account for them. However, the manager is very concerned because of my age. I am 19 years and as such advised that I should look for a matured person that will represent me at the security company .
If you are willing to assist me, please let us know immediately so that you will arrange the transfer of the money to your account with the security company . Please note that I have decided to offer you 10% of the total money as compensation for your noble assistance in accordance with my mothers advise. I am interested in any profitable commercial venture which you consider very good in your country and you would also get a school for me, and my cousin so that we can finish our college education.
Please there is urgent need for the money to be transferred to your account because of the political crises they are having in Ctte d'Ivoire now. I am hoping to hear your urgent response so that I will not look for another foreign partner. Thank you and may God bless you and your dear family.
Yours sincerely
Jude Koffi.



Anti-fraud resources: