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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: "MR.ANTHONY OFFOR." <efigenia@unp.br>
Date: Sat, 31 Oct 2009 01:53:30 -0000 (GMT)
Subject: I NEED YOUR TRUST AND CO-OPERATION!

I NEED YOUR TRUST AND CO-OPERATION!

FROM: ANTHONY OFFOR
ZENITH BANK PLC.
PLOT 84, AJOSE ADEOGUN STREET
VICTORIA ISLAND
LAGOS, NIGERIA.


GREETINGS TO YOU ,


THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME YOUR TIME. PLEASE BE PATIENT AND READ MY EMAIL TO YOU. I AM
A STAFF OF ZENITH BANK (LAGOS BRANCH, NIGERIA) ATTACHED IN PRIVATE BANKING SERVICES.

I AM CONTACTING YOU CONCERNING A CUSTOMER AND AN INVESTMENT PLACED UNDER OUR BANKS
MANAGEMENT ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO. IN 2004, THE SUBJECT MATTER; REF: JB/ZNT/BANK/107 CAME
TO OUR BANK TO ENGAGE IN PRIVATE BANKING SERVICES, I WAS THE OFFICER ASSIGNED TO HIS
CASE.

WE MET ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS PRIOR TO ANY INVESTMENTS BEING PLACED. I ENCOURAGED HIM
TO CONSIDER VARIOUS GROWTH FUNDS WITH PRIME RATINGS.BASED ON MY ADVICE, WE SPUN THE
MONEY AROUND VARIOUS OPPORTUNITIES AND MADE ATTRACTIVE MARGINS FOR OUR FIRST MONTHS
OF OPERATION, THE ACCRUED PROFIT AND INTEREST STOOD AT THIS POINT AT OVER 10 MILLION
UNITED STATES DOLLARS, THIS MARGIN WAS NOT THEULL POTENTIAL OF THE FUND BUT HE
DESIRED LOW RISK GUARANTEED RETURNS ON INVESTMENTS.


IN LINE WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS HE HAD EARLIER GIVEN TO LIQUIDATE THE FUNDS AFTER
4YEARS IN ORDER FOR HIM TO MAKE SOME INVESTMENT REQUIRING CASH PAYMENTS IN EUROPE
AND AMERICA, I FOLLOWED HIS INSTRUCTIONS AND I LATER MADE NUMEROUS ATTEMPT TO
CONTACT HIM AFTER 3 YEARS IN ORDER TO GET FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS FROM HIM. I MADE
FUTILE EFFORTS TO LOCATE HIM AND I IMMEDIATELY PASSED THE TASK OF LOCATING HIM TO
THE INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS DEPARTMENT OF OUR BANK.

A PERSON WHO SUITED HIS DESCRIPTION WAS DECLARED DEAD OF A HEART ATTACK IN
CANNES,SOUTH OF FRANCE. WE WERE SOON ENOUGH ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE BODY AND CAUSE OF
DEATH WAS CONFIRMED. THE BANK IMMEDIATELY LAUNCHED AN INVESTIGATION INTO POSSIBLE
SURVIVING NEXT OF KIN TO ALERT ABOUT THE SITUATION AND ALSO TO COME FORWARD TO CLAIM
HIS ESTATE.

THERE IS US$14,000,000.00 DEPOSITED, I ALONE HAVE THE DEPOSIT DETAILS AND THIS WILL
BE RELEASE TO NO ONE UNLESS I INSTRUCT MY BANK TO DO SO. I DECIDED TO TRACE HIS
RELATIVES OVER THE INTERNET TO LOCATE ANY MEMBER OF HIS FAMILY BUT OF NO AVAIL,HENCE
I CONTACTED YOU. I THEREFORE, SEEK YOUR CONSENT TO PRESENT YOU AS THE NEXT OF KIN TO
THE DECEASED.

THIS IS TO ENABLE US SALVAGE THE PROCEEDS OF HIS ACCOUNT AND GET IT PAID TO YOU
INSTEAD. I HAVE THIS OBSESSION THAT IF THE DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY CONFISCATED THE
MONEY AND ENRICH THEIR POCKETS, IT MIGHT NOT BE PUT INTO PROPER AND USEFUL VENTURES
TO BENEFIT THE POOR MASSES OF THIS WORLD.I IS PREPARED TO PLACE YOU IN A POSITION TO
INSTRUCT MY BANK TO RELEASE THE DEPOSIT TO YOU AS THE CLOSEST SURVIVING ELATION.UPON
RECEIPT OF THE DEPOSIT, IF YOU GIVE ME POSITIVE SIGNALS, I WILL INITIATE THIS
PROCESS TOWARDS A CONCLUSION.

SINCERELY,
MR.ANTHONY OFFOR.
PLEASE I AWAIT YOUR QUICK RESPONSE TO THIS E-MAIL : MRAOFFOR@LIVE.COM

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