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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: Mike Jones <mikejones2900@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2009 17:59:11 -0700
Subject: MESSAGE


UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC
LAGOS-NIGERIA.




ATTENTION Sir/Madam,



I am Dr.MIKE JONES. Of Bills and Exchange at the foreign Remittance
department of the Union Bank of Nigeria Plc. I am writing This letter to ask
for your support and cooperation to carry out this business opportunity in
my department.



I discovered an abandoned sum of $20.565m (twenty million, five Hundred and
sixty five thousand United States dollars only) in Account Number
11008734290 status of account fixed deposit Account, that belongs to one of
our foreign Customer Mr. Lee Wong C.E.O., WONG LEE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
NIGERIA LIMITED, Who died along with his entire family in November 1999 in
a Plane crash. Since we got information about his death we can not release
the Money unless somebody applies for it as the next of kin or relation To
the deceased. As indicated in our banking guidelines.



Unfortunately, neither the family members nor the relations have appeared to
claim this money. At this Discovery, I decided to do business with you and
release the money to you as the next of kin or relation of the deceased for
safety and Subsequent disbursement since nobody is coming for it and I don't
Want this money to go into the bank treasury as an unclaimed debt. The
banking law and guidelines of Union Bank of Nigeria Plc stipulates that if
such money remained unclaimed for a period of eight (20) years it will be
transferred into the bank Treasury as unclaimed fund. The need for a
foreigner as next of kin In this sinless is occasioned by the fact that the
customer was a Foreigner and as a Nigerian cannot stand as his next of kin
or heir.

I agreed that 30% of the money would be for you as foreign partner,

Thereafter I will visit your country for disbursement according to the
percentage indicated. Therefore to enable the immediate transfer of the fund
to you as Indicated. You must apply to the bank as relation or next of kin
of the deceased. Indicating your bank account number and indicating where
the money will be remitted.



Upon receipt of reply. I will send to you the text of application as soon as
you receive this letter you should reach me through my above e-mail
immediately and indicate your direct and confidential telephone number for
effective communication. Hoping to hear from you .



(1)Full name_____________

(2)Address______________

(3)Date of birth_________

(4)Tele/Fax______________

Thank you very much for your understanding.

Yours Faithfully,



Dr.MIKE JONES.

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