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: "Steve Macdonalds" <billmail@purcell.biz>
Reply-To: info_bceao@mixmail.com
Date: Sun, 11 Nov 2007 12:26:25 +0100
Subject: HELLO


CENTRAL BANK OF WEST AFRICAN STATES (BCEAO)
BANQUE CENTRALE DES ETATS DE LAFRIQUE DE LOUEST (BCEAO).
Legal Clearance Unit.
agence principale de Cotonou
Avenue Jean Paul Il Cotonou, BP 325 ,Cotonou
Telex : 5211 BCEAO BENIN,
Tel/Fax: 00229 93901882
Email:info_bceao@mixmail.com

ATTN:Beneficiary

FUNDS TRANSFER IRREGULARITY ALERT

My name is Steve McDonalds in-charge of the Legal Clearance Unit of the
Central bank of West African states . I am contacting you with respect to
irregularities detected in the processing of the transfer of funds you are
expecting from Africa . As you may know, there is a new financial law stipulating
that every International Transfer with value of USD1.2 Million and above
emanating from both Private Banks and Government Institutions in Africa
must pass through the Central bank of West African states (BCEAO) , and
must be personally scrutinized and endorsed by this office in being the
West African Central Bank.

This is with a view of tackling identified irregularities capable of delaying
and stalling such transfer, owing to the ineptitude and sharp practices
of officials of these private banks and government institutions.

It is a fact that before now, you have an arrangement with some Africans
to assist you in facilitating your transfer, and you have been asked or
made to pay certain processing fees and gratifications. But nothing has
been achieved. No matter the lame explanations your African Contacts may
advance to you to cover up their incompetence, the simple fact is that your
transfer is over US$1. 2Million, and has been subjected to serious irregularities,
making impossible for effect, given the clear provisions of the newly promulgated
"International Transfer Clearance Edict 117(1) of 2004".

Ordinarily, I would have ordered that your transfer process be started all
over again, but I am compelled to assist you because of the disappointment
and set back that this will mean to you, coupled with the rough experience
you may have had with your African Contacts. I will then oblige you with
the privilege of regularizing your transfer through the authentic and official
process reserved only for Priority Government International Transfers by
the compliment of the Presidency. By this process, The Central bank of West
African states (BCEAO) and the Presidency will respectively issue you with
Fresh Original Volumes of Funds Transfer Release Order (FTRO), and Funds
Transfer Agreement Authority (FTAA).

These documents are Original Hard Covers. I will arrange for these original
documents to be specially sent to you for and it will call for unconditional
bank bank to transfer of your fund. Otherwise, you would have been required
to personally come and endorse these documents at the Presidency and BCEAO
premises respectively. upon completion of this arrangement, your fund
will now have a legal basis to enforce your inherital contractual right
if your transfer is delayed any further. Within 3 banking days upon return,
your fund will be wired directly to your bank account.

In order to assist you as stated above, you must be ready to fulfil the
following conditions: You must suspend all forms of communication with your
African contacts and offshore contacts, and adhere strictly to my instructions.
Finally, you must also be ready to send a Letter of Certification to the
Central bank of West African states (BCEAO) and to the BCEAO Legal Clearance
Unit, on the immediate confirmation of your funds in your bank account.


If you are able to guarantee these conditions, I would honestly advice you
to consider your transfer completed in the next couple of days, but on your
failure to comply with my instructions your fund will be reported and deposit
with the unclaimed fund unit.


Thanks you.
Your truly.
Mr. Steve McDonalds
( BCEAO Legal Clearance )



Anti-fraud resources: