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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: "williams oputa" <oputa@mailbox.hu>
Date: Sat, 17 May 2008 09:42:05 -0700
Subject: Re: Interest of US$ 4.1 Million,


*

Re: Interest of US$ 4.1 Million,



I am* *Oputa Williams *the *branch and Head of Swift Transfer Unit* *of
Union Bank of Nigeria; Sometime ago, your fund was deposited in our bank
from Central Bank of Nigeria been the Apex Bank in Nigeria and after some
period, this money was withdrawn from our bank back to the Central Bank
treasury.*
*

For the period of time this fund was in our bank, it generated an interest
of US$ 4.1 Million, which we are about to be pay to you via International
Certified Bank Draft. Or Wire Transfer. Recently same Central Bank officials
came back and asked us to pay them the accrued interest of your fund been
deposited in our bank since you are not aware of it, but our bank is a
private bank that has integrity and image to protect as a financial
institution.



After the Board of Directors meetings, it was decided to contact you as the
original beneficiary of the fund since we knew about the fraudulent
activities occurring in Central Bank in order to protect our name and image.
* *For your information and advice, you need to hasten up to receive this
Fund because from time to time the Central Bank auditors do come to our bank
to cross-check our files and our financial update been the apex bank in
Nigeria that regulate financial institutions ,so the earlier you comply the
faster the action, because the Central bank officials wants the accrued
interest to be paid to they pocket but we are refusing them and if they find
out that this interest fund is still in our bank they will use their
authority to call back the fund to the Central Bank treasury and from there
they will have they way.



Fill free to forward to my office any form of your identification for
example; your international passport or you're driver's license, then your
telephone and fax number for easy communication with your mailing address
where this Draft will be delivered to you or your bank account details.

Please reply to my private email address: oputa.williams@yahoo.com

Best Regards

Mr. Oputa Williams

Director International Unit

Tel: +234-708-781-6218
*

*Email: Oputa.williams@yahoo.com
*

Anti-fraud resources: