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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: "innocent afam" <inncent_afam2010@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: innocent_afam@excite.com
Date: Wed, 27 Sep 2006 17:32:34 +0100
Subject: STRICTLY A PRIVATE BUSINESS PROPOSAL

FROM THE DESK OF MR. INNOCENT AFAM
STANDARD TRUST BANK PLC,
LAGOS-NIGERIA.
EMAIL:innocent_afam@excite.com


DEAR SIR/MADAM,


STRICTLY A PRIVATE BUSINESS PROPOSAL

I AM MR. INNOCENT AFAM, THE MANAGER, BILLS AND EXCHANGE AT THE FOREIGN
REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT OF THE STANDARD TRUST BANK PLC.

I AM WRITING THIS LETTER TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND COOPERATION TO
CARRY
OUT
THIS BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY IN MY DEPARTMENT. WE DISCOVERED AN ABANDONED
SUM
OF $10.5(TEN MILLION,FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY)
IN AN
ACCOUNT THAT BELONGS TO ONE OF OUR FOREIGN CUSTOMERS WHO DIED ALONG
WITH HIS
ENTIRE FAMILY OF A WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN IN MAY 2002 IN A PLANE CRASH.


SINCE WE HEARD OF HIS DEATH, WE HAVE BEEN EXPECTING HIS NEXT-OF-KIN TO
COME OVER AND PUT CLAIMS FOR HIS MONEY AS THE HEIR,BECAUSE WE CANNOT
RELEASE
THE FUND FROM HIS ACCOUNT UNLESS SOMEONE APPLIES FOR CLAIM AS THE
NEXT-OF-KIN TO
THE DECEASED AS INDICATED IN OUR BANKING GUIDELINES.

UNFORTUNATELY, NEITHER THEIR FAMILY MEMBER NOR DISTANTRELATIVE HAS EVER
APPEARED TO CLAIM THE SAID FUND.

UPON THIS DISCOVERY,I AND OTHER OFFICIALS IN MY DEPARTMENT HAVE
AGREED TO MAKE BUSINESS WITH YOU AND RELEASE THE TOTAL AMOUNT INTO YOUR
ACCOUNT AS THE HEIR OF THE FUND SINCE NO ONE CAME FOR IT OR DISCOVERED
HE
MAINTAINED ACCOUNT WITH OUR BANK, OTHERWISE THE FUND WILL BE RETURNED
TO THE
BANKS TREASURY AS UNCLAIMED FUND.


WE HAVE AGREED THAT OUR RATIO OF SHARING WILL BE AS STATED THUS;


30 % FOR YOU AS FOREIGN PARTNER,


60 % FOR US THE OFFICIALS IN MY DEPARTMENT AND


10% FOR THE SETTLEMENT OF ALL LOCAL AND


FOREIGN EXPENCES INCURRED BY US AND YOU DURING THE COURSE OF THIS
BUSINESS.

UPON THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THIS TRANSFER.

I AND ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES WILL COME TO YOUR COUNTRY AND MIND OUR
SHARE.

IT IS FROM OUR 60 % WE INTEND TO IMPORT AGRICULTURAL MACHINERIES INTO
MY COUNTRY AS A WAY OF RECYCLING THE FUND.


TO COMMENCE THIS TRANSACTION, WE REQUIRE YOU TO IMMEDIATELY INDICATE
YOUR INTEREST BY A RETURN E-MAIL AND ENCLOSE YOUR PRIVATE CONTACT
TELEPHONE
NUMBER, FAX NUMBER FULL NAME AND ADDRESS AND YOUR DESIGNATED BANK
COORDINATES TO ENABLE US FILE LETTER OF CLAIM TO THE APPROPRIATE
DEPARTMENTS FOR NECESSARY APPROVALS BEFORE THE TRANSFER CAN BE MADE.

NOTE ALSO, THIS TRANSACTION MUST BE KEPT STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
BECAUSE OF IT'S NATURE.


PLEASE SEND YOUR RESPONSE TO:innocent_afam@excite.com

I LOOK FORWARD TO RECEIVING YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE.

REGARDS,
MR. INNOCENT AFAM
STANDARD TRUST BANK PLC

_________________________________________________________________
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