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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: "Francois Kerekou" <kerekou@gazeta.pl>
Reply-To: francois.kerekou@yahoo.com
Date: Sun, 25 May 2008 05:08:31 -0800
Subject: Re


*EQUITY LAW & ASSOCIATE.
Carre 461 Jericho, 08BP0879 - Cotonou - BENIN
TELL: +229-97631021 Tel/Fax: +229-21334231*

Attn: Next of Kin,

I am Barrister Francois Kerekou, private attorney to a national of your
country, who used to work as the Director of Société Nationale de
Commercialization des Produits Pétroliers (SONACOP), an Oil firm here in
Benin Republic West Africa, here in shall be Referred to as my client. On
the 21st of April 2005, my client, His wife and their three Children were
involved in a car accident along Cotonou-Abome express-road, all occupants
of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. Since then, I have made
several enquiries to locate any of of his relatives, after these several
unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last name over the Internet,
to locate any member of his Family hence I contacted you.

I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money left behind by my
late client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the
Bank where the Deceased had an account valued at about $7.2 million dollars
(Seven Million Two Hundred Thousand United States Dollars). The Bank has
issued me a notice to provide the next of kin within the shortest time
possible.

I seek your consent to present you as his next of kin and beneficiary of the
assets since you have the same last name, the proceeds of this account is
valued at $7.2Musd (Seven million Two hundred thousand United states
dollars). The bank will transfer this total amount into your account and we
shall then share it 50% for and 50% for you. I will procure all Necessary
legal documents that can be used to back up your claim. All I require is
your honest co-operation and trust.

I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that
will protect you from any breach of the law.
Anticipating having your consent; I will need the following information from
you: Your Full Name and Address, Your Age, Occupation, Your Telephone Mobile
and Fax Number for Communication Purpose.

Please reply as soon as possible.

Yours sincerely,
Barrister Francois Kerekou Esq

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