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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.

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Some comments about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "steven eze" <steveneze@msn.com>
Reply-To: steveneze2006@yahoo.it
Date: Thu, 23 Feb 2006 01:48:43 +0000
Subject: BE THE NEXT OF KIN

                             STANDARD TRUST BANK OF NIGERIA PLC
                                       34 RASAQ BALOGUN WAY
                                      VICTORIA ISLAND, LAGOS

From the desk of MR.STEVEN EZE.
From Foreign Remittance Dept
Of Standard Trust Bank Nig Plc,
Victoria Island, Lagos Branch.
 
Dear friend,
 
Good day to you.I am MR.STEVEN EZE, an accountant with the Standard Trust Bank Of Nigeria Plc (S.T.B).I am contacting you for a business proposition.
The board directors of the Standard Trust Bank PLC ( S.T.B ). Has stated to day that all foreign debt should be paid before the second quarters of our bank  schedule, act 24 of the Nigerian banking sector. As-well all fund termed unclaimed fund should be paid to their beneficiary . The policy was endorsed by the Federal Government of Nigeria. The major reason for the policy is to regulate the Economy suituation of the country.
 
That is why i have contacted you to stand in as the next of kin and the beneficiary to one of our late customer Engr. Alexander Woodard who died in an auto crash 5 years ago along with his wife and three children.Ever since then the bank has been trying to locate his next of kin or relatives to claim his funds to the tune of $35,000,000 and a landed property of 90 acres of land at a residential part of Lagos in Nigeria.
 
The bank has threatened to confiscate this funds and property if no one shows up to claim the funds and property left behind by Mr. Woodard. I do not want this funds and property to be confiscated by the bank that is why i have contacted you secretly unknowing to the bank to present you officially as the next of kin and the beneficiary to Mr. Woodard so his funds and property can be transfered to you.You are entitled to 50% of this funds and property while the other 50% to me.
 
Your co-operation and honesty is highly needed to make this transaction a successful one.This transaction is 100% risk free,I work in the bank and i know every neccessary measure needed to be taken to make this transaction a success and i shall guide you on the neccessary steps to be taken to see to the success of this transaction.
All i require from you is your Co-operation to participate in this transaction so we can proceed on.

Provide me with the following informations,
1.Your full name and sex
2.Your age and marrital status
3.Your occupation
4.Your telephone number and contact address
Finally, the high degree of trust and confidentiality is required from both
parties.
 
Thanks and Godbless.
MR.STEVEN EZE.

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