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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: "DR FRED AZU" <drfredazu9@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2009 22:08:43 +0300
Subject: FROM DR FRED AZU.




Dear Friend


With due honor and respect, I introduce myself to you for a better relationship. I am DR. FRED AZU the Director in charge of Audit/Accounts unit, Foreign Remittance Department of FIRST INLAND BANK NIGERIA. Your contact is courtesy of Business online network via Internet as I decided to contact you for this beneficial transaction that is 100% risk free. During auditing, verifications/investigations in our bank at the end of last fiscal (financial) year, I discovered the sum of (US$ 22,500,000.00)TWENTY TWO MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS in a dormant account belonging to Late Mr. Morris Thompson an American citizen who unfortunately lost his life in the plane crash of Alaska Airlines Flight 261 which crashed on February 4th 2000, including his wife and only daughter.


Our investigations reveal no survival ?no NEXT OF KIN/RELATIONS for claims as we have long been expecting someone to forward applications for claims asit applies to our banking regulations. Information / verifications from reliable sources confirmed that his supposed "NEXT OF KINS" died with him in the crash. However, I keep this information (SECRET) confidential within my jurisdiction to enable us submit claims and transfer this fund through trustworthy person whom we shall present to our bank as the BONAFIDE "NEXT OF KIN" to the deceased. We intent to credit this fund into any of your nominated (designated) offshore bank account for investments. Meanwhile, all domestic arrangements for claims have been put in place awaiting your acceptance to participate.

I will give you directives and all needed information as soon as I receive your positive response. Kindly understand that we could not carry out this on our own at based on the simple facts that we are civil servants and not allowed to operate foreign account that involves such huge amount, it will raise eyebrows on our side in terms of transferbeing staff of the bank. Moreover, this fund belongs to a foreigner and demand same as next of kin to claim it.


Hence your contact for successful operation. My colleague and I have resolved to offering you 30% of the total sum as commission, extra 10% of all proceeds to be generated form subsequent investments and will make you a fund manager in a five (5) year irrevocable contractual business partnership. We will invest 50% of our shares into your firm provided it is profit orientated. 5% of the total fund will be set aside to re-imburse all expenses to be incurred in the course of this transaction such as telephone and other minor expenses.


I am assuring you of a smooth and successful transaction provided you display maturity and observe confidentiality. And it will interest you to know that the Reserve Bank will authorize credit of this fund into your account as contract payment to alleviate you from all queries regarding the source(originality) of fund and will provide you (beneficiary) with contractual (data) details to certify your bank or government if the need arises.

Therefore, be kind to clarify the following: 1. Can your account accommodate this fund in your local bank without government intervention or do you have an account outside your country where you may consider safe for this fund? 2. What are taxation rates in your country, as I desire a low/free tax zone? 3. What other lucrative investments would you suggest as I intend banking, real estate and import/export investments? 4. Can you make residential documents and purchase a house for me and my family to relocate and settle in your country?

Looking forward for your urgent response.

Best regards,



DR. FRED AZU

DIRECTOR,
AUDIT / ACCOUNTS UNITS
FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPARTMEN
First Inland Bank Plc.
4/6 Adetokunbo Ademola Street,
Victoria Island, Lagos.
Nigerian.


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