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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: "charles akaugo" <charlesakaugo0006@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: charlesakaugo@myway.com
Date: Sun, 28 Jan 2007 20:44:15 +0100
Subject: GOOD DAY,Wouters

Dear Wouters,

I am sorry for contacting you through this medium without a previous
notice;I had to use the E-mail because it is an easier and more
confidentialway of making contact with people around the world.My name
is Charles Akaugo a banker, with UNION BANK PLC.I happen to be thechief
account officer to Late Eng.William Wouters,a national of your country,who
used
to work with Chevron- Development Company in Nigeria. After shall be
referred
to as my client. On the 27th of January 2002,myclient, his wife and their
three children were involved in ikeja bomb
blast.Which All occupants unfortunately lost their lives?
PLEASE VIEW THESE WEBSITES BELOW TO CONFIRM

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/2718295.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/2698081.stm

Since then I have made several enquiries to your embassy to locate any of
myclients extended relatives. After these several unsuccessful
attempts,I decided to track his last name over the Internet, to locate any
memberofhis family hence I contacted you.

I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and
propertyleftbehind by my client before they get confiscated or
declaredunserviceable by the bank where these huge deposits were
lodged.Particularly, the finance company where the deceased had an
account value dat about USD$19.5 million dollars has issued me a notice to
provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next
Thirty
(30) Working official working days.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over
4yearsnow I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the
deceased
since you have the same last name so that the proceeds of this account
valued
at USD19.5 million dollars can be paid to you and then you and me can
share the money.50% to me and 45% to you and 5% will be used for any
Expenses. I
have 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 seeing this
deal
through. 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 me by my private email
(charlesakaugo@myway.com)

Best regards,
Charles Akaugo,

Note: WHEN YOU RECEIVE THIS LETTER. KINDLY SEND ME AN E-MAIL SIGNIFYING
YOUR DECISION INCLUDING YOUR PRIVATE TEL/FAX NUMBERS FOR QUICK
COMMUNICATION,SO THAT I WILL NOT GO ON SOURCING FOR ANOTHER PERSON FOR
THIS SAME PURPOSE.
THANKS

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