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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: Jacob Seriwu <jbseriwu@demo.netvigour.com>
Date: Sun, 3 Aug 2008 15:03:38 -0400
Subject: Partnership


My Dear,
I expect this mail to meet you and your family in good health. I am Mr. Jacob Seriwu, area manager of a branch in one of the leading Banks here in Cotonou-Benin. It is my pleasure to seek for your assistance in this confidential business transaction, which will be for our mutual benefit.

Few years ago, an expatriate consultant/ contractor Engineer, a customer of our Bank made a numbered time (fixed) deposit for twelve calendar months valued at US$9,600,000.00(Nine Million Six Hundred U.S. Dollars) in my branch. On maturity, I sent a routine notification to his forwarded address but got no reply. After months, we sent a reminder and finally, we discovered from his then contract employee according to record (a cement company in Benin ) that ENGR. LENARD BURRET died on the Republic of Benin plane crash on the day of 26th December 2003. This also took lives of thousands of Lebanese.

Presently, all attempts by the Bank to trace his next of kin were fruitless. On further investigation I found out that He died alongside with His suppose next of kin. And until now no other person knows about this account or could give any documentary evidence concerning this account.

The total sum of US$9,600,000.00 is still standing in His favour in my bank head office as dormant account. No one has ever come forward to claim it and according to the Republic of Benin banking law, after five years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Beninoise government if the account owner is certified dead and nobody comes forward to claim it. Now I need your support and your full cooperation, so that you and I will have this fund. To transfer it out of my bank to any special account of your/ our choice.

All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us seeing this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.

At the conclusion of this business, we will have the money shared 75% - 25% of the total amount. 75% will be for me and 25% for you. Please you have to be rest assured that as far as I am concerned in this transaction as an insider of the bank, this business is 100% sure and risk free. Because I have already done my home work very well and I have covered every loop holes and also set my machinery on work before contacting you.

Very Important: On your reply, please reply to my confidential email address ( jbseriwu@sify.com ), include you full names, phone and address.

Yours Faithfully,
Jacob Seriwu

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