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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. Peter Phillip" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <phillpeter@yahoo.cn>
Date: Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:14:04 -0700
Subject: My Greeting to You, Please Act As The Next Of Kin....

FROM THE DESK OF MR. PETER PHILLIP
BRANCH ACCOUNTANT
UBN - NIGERIA

Dear Friend,
My Greeting to You

First, I must solicit your confidence in this transaction; this is by virtue if it's nature as being utterly CONFIDENTIAL and TOP SECRET. Though I know that a transaction of this magnitude will make any one apprehensive and worried, but I am assuring you that all will be well at the end of the day. We have decided to contact you due to the urgency of this transaction, as we have been reliably informed of your discreteness and ability in transactions of this nature. Let me start by first introducing myself properly to you.

I am Mr. Peter Phillip an Accountant with the Union Bank of Nigeria Plc. I came to know of you in my private search for a reliable and Reputable person to handle this confidential transaction, which involves the transfer of a huge sum of money to a foreign account requiring maximum confidence.

THE PROPOSITION:

A foreigner Late Engineer Min W. Tang a native of your country was a Pipeline Engineer with the Federal Government, until his death Eight years ago in a pipeline Fire Incidents in warri the Niger Delta, banked with us here at Union Bank Plc, and had a closing balance of US$13.5M (Thirteen Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars)which the bank now unquestionably expects it to be claimed by any available foreign next-of-kin of the Late beneficiary or alternatively be donated to a discredited trust fund for arms and Ammunition at a military war college here in Nigeria.

Visiting this websites: - http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/vandalised-oil-pipeline-explosion-kills-up-to-250-707498.html

Fervent valuable efforts are being made by the Union Bank to get in touch with any of the Min W. Tang family or relatives but proved to no avail. It is because of the perceived possibility of not being able to locate any of Late Engr. Min W. Tang's next-of-kin (he had no known wife and children) that the management under the influence of our chairman and member of the board of directors, retired Major General Aku W. Aku, that an arrangement be made for the funds to be declared "UNCLAIMABLE"and subsequently be donated to the Trust Fund for Arms and Ammunition to further enhance the course of war in Africa and the world in general.

In order to avert this negative development, so of my trusted colleagues and I now seek your permission to have you stand as a next-of-kin to Late Engr.Min W. Tang so that the funds US$13.5M would be released and paid into your bank account as the beneficiary next-of-kin. All documents and proves to enable you get this fund will be carefully worked out and more so we are assuring you of a 100% risk free involvement.

Your share stays while the rest would be for my colleagues for and myself Investment purposes in your country. We have agreed that, the funds will be shared thus, after it has been transferred into your account 1. 30% of the money will go to you for acting as the beneficiary of the funds. 2. 10% will be set aside for reimbursement to both parties for any incidental expenses that may be incurred in the course of the transfer. 3. 60% to us the originators of the transaction.

If this proposal is acceptable by you and you do not wish to take undue advantage of the trust, we hope to bestow on you and your company, then kindly get back to me through my email address phillpeter@yahoo.cn

Furnishing me with your most confidential telephone, fax number and exclusive bank particulars so that I can use this information to apply for the release and subsequent transfer of the funds in your favor.

Thanking you in advance for your anticipated co-operation.

Yours faithfully,

MR. PETER PHILLIP
BRANCH ACCOUNTANT
UBN - NIGERIA

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