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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: "Dikko Bello" <dikko_bello@msn.com>
Reply-To: dikobello@myway.com
Date: Mon, 20 Feb 2006 10:17:23 +0000
Subject: URGENT REPLY.

CHIEF BARRISTER DIKKO BELLO L.L.B. L.L.M B.L
LEGAL PRACTITIONER AND CONSULTANT
MEMBER CONSTITUTION DRAFTING COMMITTEE 1995.

Hello my friend,

I am calling from Benin republic West Africa. I am Barrister DIKKO BELLO an
English speaking Beninois, Solicitor & Financial Attorney/ Consultant. I was
moved to contact you based on present condition here. There is a foreigner
who registered with me as his personal Attorney and he was a fisherman as
well as a one time secret agent in lifting oil overseas for our former
Ministers. My client here-in-after referred as my client was also a
Diamond/Gold Merchant.

So, on 2rd June 2001 my client made a numbered time (Fixed) deposit for
US$20.900,000.00 (TWENTY Million nine Hundred Thousand US Dollars Only) with
a Bank here in Benin,with standing statement/agreement with the bank that
all correspondences in respect to the fixed deposit contract must be sent to
him through my humble chambers. Upon maturity, the routine notification was
sent to me, which I dispatched to his forwarding address as usual without no
reply.

After a month, I sent a reminder which I received from the bank without any
reply again. Finally, I discovered from my client's contract employers-that
he died among many others on Sept.11, 2001 Terrorist attack. But,he died
without making any WILL and all attempts to trace his next of kin was
fruitless.

I also discovered that he did not declare any kin or relations in all his
official documents, including his fixed deposit contract with the bank.
Hencefort, I seek your consent to present you to this bank as the next of
kin based on the official letter I just received from his bankers reminding
me that BENINOIS LAW states that at the expiration of four(4) years the
money will revert to the ownership of the BENINOIS Government if I do not
confirm the next of kin to claim the fund. Consequently, my proposal is that
I will like you as a foreigner to stand in as the next of kin to my deceased
client since you shares the same surname and also from this same country so
that the fruits of this old man's labor will not go into the hands of some
corrupt government officials.

Note that this transaction is simple and risk free because I will provide
expert legal services that will guarantee the successful execution of this
deal. If you are interested,You have to response. I shall provide you with
more details and how we shall proceed with the claims.

I expect you to observe utmost confidentiality and be rest assured that this
transaction would be profitable for both of us.

Thanks as I await for your reply.

Best Regards,
BARRISTER DIKKO BELLO Esq.


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