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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: "Sherif Adams" <sherif_adams0012@gala.net>
Reply-To: sherif_adams1@excite.com
Date: Sun, 13 Jul 2008 04:05:26 +0100
Subject: Warm Greetings


FROM MR SHERIF ADAMS,
MANAGER AUDITTING AND ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT,
BANK OF AFRICA (B.O.A),
COTONOU, BENIN REPUBLIC, WEST AFRICA.

Dear Friend.

I am Mr.Sherif Adams, Manager Auditting and Accounting Department in the
Bank Of Africa, Cotonou, Benin Republic in West Africa.(Twenty Two Million
United States Dollars) belonging to a American business magnate and property
consultant, Late Mr Hamilton Creek. The late Mr Hamilton Creek died with his
entire family after his car ran into a Trailer load of Groundnut Oil, and
died immediately.

During one of our Board Of Directors Meeting,I observed that since Late Mr
Hamilton Creek's sudden death the bank has made frantic efforts to trace his
relations, but all attempts failed.Also as the present Manager Auditting and
Accounting Department in my bank, I was notified that if the Late Mr
Hamilton Creek's relations or next of kin is not presented to the bank after
4years, The board of directors will impound the acount and take advantage of
the funds,therefore I conceived this idea of contacting you so that you will
stand as the next of kin to Late Mr Hamilton Creek,All I need from you is is
your undaunted support and solidarity to have the funds transferred to your
nominated bank account,Be rest assured as everything have being put to place
for a smooth operation because as a staff in this bank, i have gone into
the secret file jacket of Late Mr Hamilton Creek to get all the needed
informations.

I want you to know that as a Civil Servant still in active service we are
outlawed to operate on a foreign account, therefore this is why i seeked
you as my foreign partner who can assist in receiving this fund so that I
will present you to the bank with all legal documents which will be procured
on your favour, Also I have plans of us investing on any productive
business you will be managing pending when i will retire from my job on
conclusion of this transaction and come over to your country to meet with
you face to face. For such undertaken,I have agreed to give you 30% of the
total sum while i shall have 60% and the remaining 10% shall be for the
less privileged and the motherless babies home.

I have done every achievability study on how to perfect the transfer of the
funds to your bank account, your role shall be to send an application for
the claim of the funds to the bank as a next of kin or business partner to
the Late Mr Hamilton Creek. I would require your contact address, Telephone
and Fax numbers for easy communication. Please,One again be rest assured
that this is business is 100% risk free and do not use the advantage to
betray me once you recieve this fund into your account.

I look forward to receiving your urgent response.

Best wishes,

Mr.Sherif Adams

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