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

Fraud email example:

From: Michael Obi <m_obi1@maxradio.lv>
Reply-To: m_obi11@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Tue, 11 Apr 2006 13:22:10 +0300
Subject: late Andreas Schranner

Dear Friend,

First, I'm soliciting your utmost confidenciality in this Transaction.

I am Michael Obi, Credit Officer of a bank in Lagos Nigeria. I came to you in my private search for a reliable person to handle this confidential transaction, which involves huge sum of money to your country.

The Proposition: My late client a German, late Andreas Schranner who died on 25th July 2000 aboard AF4590 which crashed into the Hotelissimo with all 109 people on board and five who died on the ground when the plan crashed, while returning from his country from a business trip. He had a closing balance worth US$11,Million with a bank in my country,
having heard of the tragic incident involving late Andreas Schranner and his family,the bank now expects a next of kin as beneficiary. Valuable efforts have been made by the bank management and myself to get in touch with any of his family's but I personally found out that he died with his wife Maria who was 62, their daughter Andrea Eich who was 38, her husband Christian who was 57,and their children Katharina who was 8 and Maximilian who was 10, all died in the crash.

The only name of next of kin given to me by Andreas Schranner unfortunately was with him in the same flight that crashed, and this is unknown to the bank management. I'm taking this advantage in order to better my life and that of my family, I now decided to seek your permission to have you stand as next of kin to late Andreas Schranner,so that the the money be released to you as the next of kin. All documents and proves to enable you get this fund will be carefully worked out,by me because he gave me.You can take time and verify from the website as shown herein for confirmation of the crash,

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm

I am assuring you that this transaction and its procedures is 100% legal and risk free involvement.Your share stays while the rest will be for myself.
The sharing of the fund between the two of us will be as follows: 30% of the tatal sum will go to you for your effort and commitment to the success of this transaction. 70% will be for us here. As soon as I receive an acknowledge of the receipt of this message in Acceptance, I will immediately start up with the process. If this proposal is acceptable by you, kindly reply me immediately you get this mail.

I want you to also furnish me with your private telephone/fax or preferably your mobile numbers as well as your full names and address,I will have to apply for the release and subsequent transfer of the fund in your favour.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated co-operation.

Yours faithfully,
Dr Michael Obi


Anti-fraud resources: