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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: "Mr Vadim Petrov" <vadim_petrov_07@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2008 08:20:52 -0400
Subject: BUSINESS PROPOSAL OF TRUST AND BENEFIT.




Good Day,

Kindly accept my apology for contacting you via this medium.
Although, we haven’t met before. Nevertheless, I have every
reason to believe that you are a highly respected and trustworthy
personality. I got your contact through your country's chambers
of commerce and Industry. Although, I don't know you personally
but I believe God has made this contact possible and also hope
you will not disappoint me for trusting you.

Permit me to seek your attention in so informal a manner. I am
Mr.Vadim Alexandrovitch Petrov, Bank Manager of URALSIB BANK
OAO RUSSIA and I have an urgent and very confidential business
proposition for you. On November 6, 2003, a British Oil consultant/
contractor with YUKOS OIL COMPANY (Russia's Largest Oil
Company), Made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit for twelve
calendar months, valued at US$40,000,000.00 (Forty Million United
States Dollars) in my branch. Upon maturity, I sent a routine
notification to his forwarding address but got no reply.

After a month, we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from
his contract employers, the Russian Solid Minerals Corporation
that he died from an automobile accident. On further
investigation, I found out that he died without making a WILL and
all attempts to trace his next of kin were fruitless. I therefore
made further investigation and discovered that he did not declare
any kin or relations in all his official documents, including his Bank
Deposit paperwork in my Bank.

This sum of US$40,000,000.00 (Forty Million United States Dollars) is
still sitting in my Bank and the interest is being rolled over with
the principal sum at the end of each year. No one will ever come
forward to claim it. According to Laws of Russia, at the expiration
of 6 (six) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the
Russian Government if nobody applies to claim the fund.
Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to
stand in as the next of kin to the man so that the fruits of this old
man's labor will not get into the hands of some corrupt
government officials.

This is simple, We shall employ the services of an attorney for
drafting and authorization of the WILL and to obtain the necessary
documents and letter of probate/administration in your favor for
the transfer. A bank account in any part of the world that you will
provide will then facilitate the transfer of this money to you as
the beneficiary/next of kin. The money will be paid into your
account for us to share in the ratio of 50% for me and 50% for you.

There is no risk at all as all the paperwork for this transaction will
be done by the attorney and my position as the Branch Manager
guarantees the successful execution of this transaction. If you are
interested, please reply immediately via the private email address
vadim_pertov_07@yahoo.com.hk
Please observe utmost confidentiality, and rest assured that this
transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall
require your assistance to invest my share in your country.

Awaiting your urgent reply via my email address.
vadim_pertov_07@yahoo.com.hk
Thanks and regards.
Vadim . A . Petrov.



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