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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: Dave Okoro <mrdaveok12@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <daveokoro02@myway.com>
Date: Fri, 27 Jul 2007 02:31:36 +0000
Subject: REPLY VERY URGENT


Dear Friend,
How are you today and business in your country.
I am Mr. Dave Okoro, the Branch Manager of United Bank for Africa Plc Marina branch Lagos. I would respectfully request that you keep the contents of this mail confidential and respect the integrity of the information you come by as a result of this mail. I contacted you independently of our investigation and no one is informed of this communication. I know you would be wondering why I am writing you with a request such as this but I only urge you to read on.
Sometime in 1999, a certain consultant/contractor Mr. Glen Hatleberg made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit for twelve calendar months, valued at large amount (Amount withheld for known reasons) in my branch. Upon maturity, I sent a routine notification to his forwarding address in America but got no reply. After a month, we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his contract employers, Shell Oil Corporation that Mr. Glen Hatleberg died longside his wife, from an airplane crash.Further proof of the death of Mr. Glen Hatleberg is in the following web pages for you to make confirmations and further research about his death:http://archives.cnn.com/2000/US/02/01/alaska.airlines.list/index.htmlhttp://html.thenewmexicochannel.com/sh/news/stories/nat-news-20000201-133854.htmlhttp://www.alamo-girl.com/0366.htm
Since then I have made several enquiries to his embassy to locate any of his extended relatives this has also proved unsuccessful After these several unsuccessful attempts,I hence propose that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in as the next of kin to Mr. Glen Hatleberg so that the fruits of this old man's labour will not be confiscated by our bank or get into the hands of some corrupt government officials in this country.
The banking guidelines of United Bank for Africa PLC stipulates that if such money remained unclaimed for over a period of time with the account unserviceable the money will be confiscated as unclaimed funds if nobody comes for the money,Since i have not seen any body for the claim of this money and his property for the last six years .I have decided to track your name on the internet as foreigner and a friend so that this fund will be transfered into your account for us to share together so that i can invest my share of this fund in any good business in your country.
To avoid misunderstanding at the end of the transaction,I want you to confirm to me,your acceptance of a 40% share of the total fund,while 5% will be set aside for the expenses that will be incurred in the course of the transaction,then 55% for me.
Please observe utmost confidentiality, and be rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for both of us.I awaits your urgent response so as to furnish you with a more comprehensive detail of this transaction.You will be required to send a letter of application to the bank for the release of this fund to you as the beneficiary to the deceased.
My position as the Branch Manager guarantees the successful execution of this transaction. I urge you to indicate your interest by forwarding your :Full Names/Address/Occupation and Your Direct Mobile Phone Number to My private
E-mail: daveok12@myway.com
Awaiting your urgent reply.
Yours Sincerely,Mr. Dave Okoro.


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