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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: "richard bernard" <richardbern@mail.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: richardbernard_40@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2006 19:17:32 +0100
Subject: GREETINGS



Dear sir

This letter must come to you as a surprise, but I believe it is only a day that people meet and
become great friends and business partners. I am Mr. Richard Bernard , currently Head of Coporate
affairs with a reputable bank here in U. A. E. I write you this proposal in good faith, believing
that I can trust you with the information I am about to reveal to you.

I have an urgent and very confidential business proposition for you. On November 6, 2000, an Iraqi
Foreign Oil consultant/contractor with the CHEVRON PETROLEUM CORPORATION, MR. KHALIL AL NASSER made
a (Fixed deposit) for 36 calendar months, valued at US$17,500,000.00 (Seventeen Million Five hundred
Thousand Dollars only) in my bank and I happen to be his account officer before I was moved to my
present position recently. Upon maturity in 2003, as his account officer , it is my duty to notify
him on the maturity date so I sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but the letter
was returned undelivered.

After sometime, I tried sending back the letter, but it was again returned and finally I discovered
from his contract employers, Chevron Petroleum Corporation that Mr. Khalil Al Nasser died as a result
of torture in the hand of Saddam Hussein (former Iraqi President) during one of his trips to his
country Iraq, as he was accused of leaking information to the Americans. On further investigation,
I discovered that Mr. Al Nasser’s family wife and two sons died during the Gulf War in Iraq and was
the reason why he did not declare any next of kin or relation in all his official documents, including
his Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank and did not leave any WILL. This sum of US$17,500,000.00 have
been floating and placed under dormant/unserviceable account by my bank management since no one have
heard from the owner since 2003. I wish to let you know that all the investigation I have made so far,
my bank management is not aware of it, I am the only one that have the information.

With the recent change of government in my country and with their efforts to support the United Nations
in checkmating terrorism aid in the U. A. E. By end of this year, the government will pass a new
financial control law which will give the government authority to interrogate account owners of above
$5,000,000.00 to explain the source of the funds, making sure it is not for terrorism support. If I do
not move this money out of the country immediately, by end of the
year the government will definitely confiscate the money, because my bank cannot provide the account
owner to explain the source of the money.

I cannot directly transfer out this money without the help of a foreigner and that is why I am contacting
you for an assistance. As the Account Officer to late Al Nasser, coupled with my present position and
status in the bank as Head of Retail Banking Groug , I have the power to influence the release of the
funds to any foreigner that comes up as the next of kin to the account, with the correct information
concerning the account, which I shall give you. All documents to enable you claim this fund will be
carefully worked out and there is practically no risk involved, the transaction will be executed under a
legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of law, beside U. A. E is porous and
anything goes.

If you accept to work with me, I want you to state how you wish us to share the funds in percentage, so
that both parties will be satisfied. If you are interested, contact me as soon as you receive this message
so we can go over the details. Thanking you in advance and may God bless you. Please, treat with utmost
confidentiality. I shall send you copy of the deposit certificate issued to Al Nasser when the deposit was
made for your perusal. I wait your urgent response.

Regards,

Mr Richard Bernard



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