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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: <tomikebe4love@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 03 Aug 2007 21:48:09 +0200
Subject: MY TESTIMONY!



Dearly Beloved,
"It is by grace are we saved not by works lest no man should boast
about"
It is amazing that while we are yet sinners christ died for us. What a
mighty God we serve! It is out the joy of salvation that I share my
testimony with you, I am Barrister TOM IKEBE, the legal adviser to late
Mr. and Mrs. Ramond Davies, an America couple that lived in my
Country Nigeria for 30 years before they both died in the plane crash late
last month. They were dedicated Christians,and they were believers in
word and act.Although they had no siblings they believed God for one until
their unfortunuate death.While they were in my country, they were
wealthy in landed properties .As their legal adviser, before their death,
the husband Mr Ramond Davies instructed me to write his WILL. Because
they had no child, they dedicated their wealth to God. According to the
WILL, the properties have to be disposed and the proceeds realised
channelled into a ministry for the work of God or any humanitarian
endeavour. Being their attorney, all the documents for the properties were in
my
care. He gave me the authority to sell the properties and give out the
fund to the ministries for the work of God.
After the demise of the couples, the properties was disposed off as
instructed by Mr.Romond Davies before his death. And as matter of fact,
after I sold all their properties, I realized more than $5,500,000.00
(Five million five hundred thousand US dollars plus), and what is
supposed to be the percentage interest of my right legal fee was firstly
deducted by me out of the total amount realized from the sold properties.
This was based on the initial agreement between the owner of the
properties and I before his death. Therefore the total amount left to be
channelled into God's work as instructed by Mr Ramond Davies, is
$5,500,000.00 (Five Million five hundred thousand US dollars) only. But Instead
of giving the main fund out for the work of God then, as initially
instructed by the owner before his death, I converted the fund to myself
with the intention of investing the fund abroad for my personal use
instead of giving the money out as instructed by the owner before his death.
I
was afraid of putting the fund in the Bank, because I have to give
account to the bank on how I got the money. I used a Finance company which
has an overseas office to deposit the funds . The Finance and
security company on my instructions has since moved the funds to their office
in Europe.

However, I later had encounter with Christ when Envangelist Benny Hinn
was preaching on television concerning Ananias and Saphira in Acts
5:1-11. After hearing the word of God, I gave my life to Christ and became
a born again Christian. As my growth in the Lord began I came accross
the book of Proverbs 28:13 that said"He that covereth his sins shall
not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy".I
confessed my sins of greed and illegal appropriation of another man's
wealth. From the scripture, I discovered that the only way I could have
peace in my life is to do what is lawful and right by giving out the
fund as instructed for the work of God by the owner before his death.
I have asked God for forgiveness and I know that God have forgiven me.
But I have to do what is lawful and right in the sight of God by
chanelling the funds into the Lord's ministry work or for Charity as
instructed by the owner before his death.
After my fasting and prayers, I asked God to make his choice and direct
me to a honest Christian or the chosen ministry that deserves this
fund by his Grace. I then contacted you, and as a matter of fact, it is
not only you or your ministry that I picked initially, but after my
fervent prayer over it, then you were chosen through divine revelation from
God.
I have notified the Security Company where I deposited the funds that I
will soon transfer the deposit out of their custody to a recepient.
So if you know that you will use this fund honestly and wisely for the
things that will glorify God's name, then do urgently contact me first
through this mail and the details will be given to you on how you will
be able to receive the fund in your country .
Your prompt response will be highly appreciated.


Yours in Christ.

Barister TOM IKEBE

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