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 about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: picolo_se2006@yahoo.co.in
Date: Thu, 18 Jan 2001 04:19:19 +0000
Subject: offer to you /happy new year

International Trust Bank Plc.
ICON House, 6th Floor, Idejo Street
Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria
PHONE:234-803-2191395.
FAX :234-80-23527532

Good-day ,

I am Barrister Picolo .S.E picolo, Lawyer and Divisional Head with the International Trust Bank Plc. I was personal account manager to one late MR. SEOM GIM TCHII , who till his death was a contractor with Impressario Nigeria Limited, Moenier Oil & Gas Consult and Nigerian Ports authority.

On June 2004, SEOM GIM TCHII, his wife and their two children were involved in a car accident along Gwagwalada express road and all occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. At the time of his death, SEOM GIM TCHII had a deposit of USD$23.4Million which was proceed of a contract work he just concluded with the NNPC. The payment was made with a bank cheque which I personally cleared.

Unfortunately, till this moment no one has come as his relation for his deposit with us. My colleagues and I humbly request your attention to this matter so that we can present you as his next of kin or beneficiary to his deposit. It is not a very difficult thing to do. All we need is to change the name and particulars of his next of kin to yours in our computer database and we file in an application for the release of the fund through the Probate Office in your name.

It does not necessarilly mean that you must be here to conclude the deal, we may request that the money be sent to Europe or even the United States for payment. Please contact me as quickly as possible on 234-803-2191395

We will talk about the sharing ratio as soon as you get in touch with me.PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU USE THE GIVEN PHONE NUMBER ABOVE.

Kind regards,
Barrister Picolo .S.E


Anti-fraud resources: