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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 by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "john obas" <john_obas_myway@msn.com>
Date: Tue, 13 Dec 2005 11:38:39 +0000
Subject: Hello Please Contact Me ASAP


Dear Friend,

I am Mr.john o. obas senior manager accounts/audit department, in Union Bank
of Nigeria Plc.

DR.George Brumley Jr, who was a consultant with Shell-development company in
Nigeria and a personal friend Died and left behind his deposit in this bank
UNION BANK NIGERIA PLC valued $20 Million Dollars.

My relationship with DR. George started in year 1999 when I was a supervisor
in Union bank marina branch. We met in my social club annual end of the year
party and I introduced him to my bank where he opened this account some few
weeks later making me the account officer to the account and he operated
this account until his death.

On the 21st of July 2003, DR. George, his wife and their two children were
involved in a plan crash in Nairobi Kenya. All passengers of the plan
unfortunately lost their lives. Since then I have made several enquiries to
your embassy to locate any of DR.George's extended relatives this has also
proved unsuccessful. To prevent the bank to claim this money I know decided
to contact any body from your country, I decided to contact you via your
email address with hope to get this money out of the bank.

This is the web site of this tragedy that struck on that faithful day.

http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/07/20/kenya.crash/index.html

I am contacting you to assist in repatriating the money left behind by
Mr.George before they get confiscated since the bank has declared the
account unserviceable. I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives
for over 3years since I was recalled back to marina branch as a senior
manager from a transfer that took me to another branch of the bank. I
therefore seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the
deceased , so that the proceeds of this account valued at $20 Million
Dollars can be paid to your account abroad and then you can have 30% of the
money for your kind gesture and keep the other 60% for me and 10% for
expenses procure, I Will need to travel down to your country for the
collection of the 60% balance as soon as this fund get to you.

I and my attorney have access to all necessary legal documents that can be
used to back up any claim we may make. All I require is your honest
cooperation to enable us see this transaction through, of which we must
present a foreigner with an account abroad to enable us to clear this money
from the bank.

Your contact information are very necessary, I mean your home address, phone
number and your full name.

I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that
will protect you from any breach of the law. Please get in touch with the
email address.(jonh_obas_myway@msn.com)

Best regards,
Mr.john o. obas


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