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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: "Erick Bello" <erickbello2@msn.com>
Reply-To: erickbello2@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2006 16:26:34 +0000
Subject: URGENT REPLY

FROM: MR.ERICK BELLO
POSTBANK OF BENIN.
Boulevard de la Jean Paul II
Cotonou BP 1809 Benin R,B
Swift: PBNKBJFF
Télex : PBNKBK 5251 CTNOU

ATTEN:
(RE: TRANSFER OF USD28.5MILLION)

Compliments of the Day Permit me to introduce myself to you. My name is
MR.Erick Bello, A top Management Official of the above Finance Corporation
in Cotonou, Benin Republic.
As it may intrest you to know, I got your contact through my international
business enquiry as i was making contact of an foreign partner that will
assist me to bring this deal to be a success. I beleive you will be viable
and capable to champion a business of such magnitude without any problem.

PROPOSITION: An American Engr Edward B.Moore, a prosperous oil\Gold merchant
had in our Bank the sum of $28.5million in a domiciliary account.
Unfortunately, he was killed in a recent ghastly motor accident in Benin
Republic. Efforts had been made by the management of my bank through the
American Embassy to contact any of the deceased children but to no avail. I
later discovered that he had no children. Given the skeletal information
available to the bank, it has so far been impossible to reach any of the
relatives.

The situation left for the Management is to declare the deceased account
dormant and revert the funds to trading for interest to the Bank. In order
to avoid this development, I now seek your approval to have you stand as a
distant relative to Engr Edward B.Moore, so that the money would be released
to you.

I am only contacting you as a foreigner because this money can not be
approved to a local bank here, but can only be approved to any foreigner
with valid international passport or drivers license and foreign account.
Because the money is in US dollars and the former owner of the account Engr
Edward B.Moore,was a foreigner too.

All Documents and proofs to enable you get the money will be carefully
packaged once I receive your acceptance on this proposal. I shall apply for
a leave as soon as the funds get into your reliable account to come to your
country for sharing and investments which you will assist me in doing. May I
assure you that this is safe and risk-free, as I have taken care of all
necessary modalities to ensure a free Transfer, I have decided that upon the
conclusion of this transaction you will be entitled to 30% of the total
Funds I have reposed my confidence in you and hope that you will not
disappoint me.

For us to proceed please send to me your full Location Address, telephone
and fax numbers to enable us discuss further about this transaction.
Regards and God bless You.
MR.ERICK BELLO.

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