joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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: kevin coleman <ke_coleman25@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <kcoleman002007@yahoo.fr>
Date: Sat, 13 Oct 2007 06:20:26 -0400
Subject: FROM MR. KEVIN COLEMAN.



FROM MR. KEVIN COLEMAN.OPERATION MANAGER.ECOBANK LAGOS NIGERIA.PLOT 32/35 MARINA ROAD,LAGOS NIGERIA WEST AFRICA.Swift: ECOCBJJ. Telex : 539 ECOBANK.
Attn:Sir/Madam,
I know this message will come to you as a surprise since we do not know each other before, but for the purpose of introduction, I am Mr. Kevin Coleman Operations manager, ECOBANK PLC Lagos Bransh, There is an account opened in this bank in 1990.After going through some old files in the records, I discovered that nobody has operated in this account since 2000.
From our records, the owner of this account is Mr. Smith B. Andrea {a foreigner, a miner at Kruger Gold. Co. and a geologist by profession}. After several notifications as a routine to the address of this distinguished customer of ours, his employees told our management that Mr. Smith Andrea died when a Kenyan Airways crashed along the coast of West Africa in 2000.
My investigation proved to me that no other person knows about this account or any thing concerning it, the company does not know any thing about this account as well, the account has no other beneficiary. This account presently accommodates the amount involving US$18 MILLION United State Dollars. With due respect trust and humanity, I am contacting you because of the need to involve a reliable foreign beneficiary with foreign account who will coordinate this motive. I want you to assist me claim this fund into your account.
In the recent meeting held by the Board of Directors in our bank,it was deliberated on the issue of unclaimed funds lying in our bank, and therefore decided to adjourn the motion as contained in the article 13 (b) sub-section (iv) of the minutes of the BODs meeting. I need your full co-operation to make this object successful because the management is ready to approve this payment to any foreigner who has correct information of this account, which I will give to you immediately if you are capable and willing to handle such amount with confidence and trust according to my in structions and advise for our mutual benefit because this is a life time opportunity I do not want to miss.
I need a truthful person in this business because I do not want to make a mistake, besides I need your strong assurance, trust and sincerity. I have to assure you that with my position now in the office I can transfer this money to any reliable foreign account which you can provide with full assurance that this money will be safe and well guided pending my physical arrival in your country for sharing.
I will destroy all document of transaction in my office immediately we receive this money leaving no trace to any place. I will use my position and influence to effect legal approvals and onward transfer of this money to your account with appropriate clearance forms of the ministries and foreign exchange departments. You can also come to lagos to discuss with me face to face after which I will make the remittance in your presence and two of us will fly to your country for withdrawal, sharing and other investment plans.
Please reply urgently so that I will inform you the next step to take towards realizing this fund immediately. Send your private telephone numbers when replying. At the conclusion of this business you will be given 30% of the total amount,70% will be for me.
I look forward to your earliest reply.

Yours Truly,
Mr. Kevin Coleman.(Operations Manager)Ecobank Nigeria Plc.


_________________________________________________________________
Climb to the top of the charts!  Play Star Shuffle:  the word scramble challenge with star power.
http://club.live.com/star_shuffle.aspx?icid=starshuffle_wlmailtextlink_oct

Anti-fraud resources: