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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: OBI <commercial2000@yenimail.com>
Reply-To: drbenobi2007@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Mon, 04 Feb 2008 01:35:00 +0200
Subject: letter



Dear Friend.

It is indeed my pleasure to write this letter to you which I believe
will be a surprise to you as we have not met before. I am deeply sorry
if I have in any way disturbed your privacy and please forgive this
unusual manner of contacting you, but this particular letter is
exceptional and of very private nature. There is absolutely going to
be a great doubt and distrust in your heart in respect of this email,
because of the fact that, so many individuals have taken advantage of
Internet to perpetuate their nefarious activities, thereby making it
extremely difficult for genuine and legitimate business class persons
to get attention and recognition. There is no way for me to know
whether I will be properly understood, but it is my duty to write and
reach out to you.

I am DR. BENSON OBI, an accountant with ACCESS BANK NIGERIA PLC. The
business I am aboutto introduce to you is based on sheer trust and
with a Sense of purpose. I am contacting you to assist in repatriating
the sum of US$35 Million (Thirty Five Million,U.S. Dollars). The money
left behind by late MR. DON EDGAR BUCKLAND who had an accident with
his family on the 21st of April 2001. Mr. Don Edgar Buckland, his wife
and their two Children were involved in a car accident in a remote
village called Kuru near Jos in Plateau State. All occupants of the
car unfortunately lost their lives.

Since then I have made several enquiries to his embassy here in
Lagos-Nigeria to locate any member of MR. DON EDGAR BUCKLAND'S family
or even to locate his extended relatives without success hence I am
contacting you in my capacity as his account officer to work with you
before the management of our bank (ACCESS BANK PLC,) would get his
account confiscated, frozen or declaredunserviceable and convert this
huge deposit of US$35Million (Thirty Five Million, U.S. Dollars) to
their personal use as it is always the case.

Now the management has issued a notice to provide the next of kin or
have the account frozen. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating
the relatives for over 2 years now, I seek your consent to present you
to our bank as the next of kin to the deceased since you are a
foreigner so that the proceeds of this account valued at US$35 Million
could be paid to you and then you and I will share the money. 60% to
me and 40% to you. I decided to link you to stand as Mr. Buckland's
relative /next of kin in order to claim this money since you are a
foreigner like him and I will like to invest my share in your
country's stable economy.

All I require is your honest co-operation to see this deal through. I
guarantee you that this transaction will be executed under a
legitimate and legal arrangement that will protect you and I from any
breachof the law.

If you are interested in this deal, kingly get back to me through
email with your complete information as follows: Your full name, your
address, your Telephone and Fax numbers and your banking Particulars
for the transfer of the funds (US$35M).

Best regards,

DR. BENSON OBI


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