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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: "samuel udo" <udsamuel4@gmail.com>
Reply-To: sa_u122@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 4 Jul 2008 22:37:48 -1200
Subject: Attn ..........Please


From the Desk of MR SAMUEL UDO.
DEPUTY DIVISIONAL HEAD BANK OF Nigeria.
ICON HOUSE,Nigeria.
Attn ..........Please

I am very glad I have found you, how is your family today I would like you
to listen to what I have to say to you I am SAMUEL UDO, the personal
accountant to Dr. Williams , a national of your country,possibly could be
your brother, who used to work with ASHANTI GOLDFIELDS CO. LTD Nigeria. On
the 21st of April 2006, Dr. Williams , his wife and their two Children were
involved in a motor accident along shagamu EXPRESS WAY.

Unfortunately, Dr.Williams and his family lost theirlives. Since then I have
made several enquiries to your embassy here in Nigeria to locate any of
Williams's extended relatives. This has also proved unsuccessful.

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 and property left
behind by Dr. Williams before they get confiscated, frozen or declared
unserviceable by the bank where these huge deposits were lodged.

Particularly, the BANK OF Nigeria where the deceased had an account valued
at about Twenty Seven Million United States Dollars (US$27,000,000:00). The
management has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the
account frozen within the next ten official working days. Since I have been
unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 1 year now I seek your
consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you have the
same last name so that the proceeds of this account valued at $27,000,000:00
can be paid to you and then you and me can share the money. 60% to me and
30% to you and 10% for expenses for both parties .

I have all the necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any
claim we may make. And this I must do to make sure that this fund is not
wasted or end up in the wrong hands.

All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us see this deal
through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate
arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Note that you
are to furnishing me with the requested information's bellow immediately;

(1)Full names.
(2)Contact address.
(3)Telephone and fax numbers.
(4)Location.

Awaiting your urgent response
SAMUEL UDO.

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