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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: "MARTINS WILLIAM" <martinswilliam2001@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2006 13:38:54 +0000
Subject: URGENT BUSINESS ASSISTANCE NEEDED

From:Mr. MARTINS WILLIAM
Chief Auditor: ABSA BANK
Telephone: 27 73 907 4010
JOHANNESSBURG
SOUTH AFRICA

Attn: PRESIDENT/ CEO

Compliments of the day to you. Obviously this message might come as a
surprise to you, but please consider it as a high priority issue which will
definitely change our destiny.

I am Mr Martins William, The Chief Auditor for the Amalgamated Bank of South
Africa (ABSA BANK) for duration of 17 years now, with about 10 months left
for an over-due retirement.

There is a Draft Account opened in this bank in 1988 by longtime client of
mine Mr. Pat Mehraba Irani, who was a foreigner and a miner at Kruger Mining
Company, he was also a geologist for several other mining conglomerates in
Africa, before he passed away in 1990 due to severe cardiac arrest in a
South Africa Hospital, leaving nobody as the next of kin or beneficiary of
the money after his death. As his financial auditor before his death, I am
aware of every details of his bank account from 1990-2003 when the last
deposit was made before his death. As a matter of fact the amount in this
account is currently Twenty-One Million Five Hundred United States Dollars
(US$21,500,000.00) waiting to be approved for immediate payment by the bank
to any foreign account holder with accurate details concerning this account
from 1990-2003, when the last deposit was made.

In other words No withdrawal or deposit has been made since 2001 to date
into this account.

I am contacting as foreigner because this money cannot be approved for
payment into a localaccount, but can only be approved for a foreign account
because it was insured and there is aclause in the depository agreement by
the Bank and Mr. Pat Mehraba Irani which states that on Nocondition can any
local withdrawal be made from this account unless the money is transfer into
a foreign account. In effect withdrawals can be made only when the money has
transferred from the vaults of the bank to a foreign bank account.

If you are willing and capable of handling such amount in strict confidence
and trust according to my instructions and advice for our mutual benefits,
because this opportunity will never come my way again. I will use my
position and influence to effect legal approvals and onward transfer of
thismoney into your nominated overseas bank account with the appropriate
clearance certificate from theMinistries and Foreign Exchange Department.

I will physically be in your country for Sharing as soon as you confirmed
the money in your bank account, but agreement will be signed by both parties
concerning the sharing modalities to avoid misunderstandings.

Finally, you should reply urgently by sending your bank account details with
your private telephone and fax number to enable my attorney to certify you
as beneficiary of the said money at the Ministryof Justice.So make sure you
read carefully and understand the contents of my mail.

Thanks and God Bless.

Best Regards

Mr.Martins William
Chief Auditor ABSA BANK



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