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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: "Mr Gerald Zenasseh" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <geraldzenasseh06@sify.com>
Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 15:59:07 +0100
Subject: ATTN. BENEFICIARY............

Greetings!

I am Mr. Gerald Zenasseh, the director in charge of Auditing and Accounting section of Bank of Africa in the west African country of Benin Republic, and also a special account officer of Mr.Ali Omar, a Lebanese national.

Mr.Omar. was a Seasoned Contractor with Benin Cement Company in Benin Republic,who unfortunately died in the plane crash of Union Transport Africaines Flight Boeing 727 in Cotonou,Benin Republic on the December 25, 2003.You will read more stories about the crash on visiting this web sites:
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/en/doc/2003-12/26/content_293549.htm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3348109.stm

Before his death on the 25th December 2003, Mr. Ali Omar. has a fixed deposit account with the bank and the account has no other beneficiary and my investigation proved to me that his supposed next of kin died along with him in the crash. Since then I have made several enquiries to locate any of my clients extended relatives,this has also proved unsuccessful.
Consequently, Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 10 months now. I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued at US$6.3 million can be paid to you.

In accordance with the Benin constitution and her currency floating regulations: at the expiration of 5 (five) years, the money will revert to the Benin Government treasury if nobody applies as the next of Kin to claim the funds. That is why I have chosen to present you as a foreign partner to stand in as the next of kin to the late Mr. Ali Omar. Upon acceptance of this proposal,I will give you a detailed information on how this deal would be carried out.The money will be shared in this ratio: seventy percent(70%) for me,thirty percent(30%) for you .

I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law as I will use my position as the Bank's head of Auditors to secure approvals and guarantee the successful execution of this transaction.

I have all necessary documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make.All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us see this deal through. And all documentation in relation to this transaction will be destroyed immediately you receive this fund leaving no trace to no place or person.
If this proposal is acceptable to you, kindly email the following information to me via return email:(MrGeraldZenasseh@sify.com )

a. Full names
b. Private telephone & fax number
c. Contact address

I will advice the next step as soon as I received your reply. Until then, have a nice day and God bless.

Sincerely,
Mr Gerald Zenasseh

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