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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: zima peters <zima_peters@boacoteivore.com>
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 03:06:17 -0800 (PST)
Subject: GREETINGS,


GREETINGS,
FROM MS.ZIMA PETERS.
ACCOUNTS / OPERATION DEPARTMENT,
COBACI BANK ABIDJAN
COTE D'IVORE( IVORY COAST )
TELEPHONE: +22549055178
EMAIL: zima.peters01@yahoo.fr  
 
Dear Sir,
 
Compliments of the day and how are you today? I hope you are fine. Before I proceed I would
like to introduce my self to you.
 
My name is Ms. zima peters, a staff in Accounts/Operation Department of COBACI BANK. ABIDJAN
COTE D' IVOIRE. I have an urgent and very confidential business proposition for you. I got
your contact from the world trade centre (W.T.C.) regional office in ABIDJAN COTE D' IVOIRE
the details of my intention was not made known to them.
 
On May 19 2004, An Oil Consultant / Contractor with the ABIDJAN COTE D'IVOIRE National
Petroleum Corporation, Eng.Thomas Bahinchi, made a numbered time (fixed) deposit for twelve
calendars valued at USD$ 15,000,000.00 (Fifteen Million United States Dollars) in my branch.
Upon maturity, I sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply.
After a month, we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his contact employers COTE
D'IVOIRE National Petroleum Corporation that Eng.Thomas Bahinchi, died in auto crash along
with his entire family.
 
On further investigation, I found out that he did not leave a WILL and all attempts to trace
his next of kin were fruitless. I therefore made further investigation and discovered that
Eng.Thomas Bahinchi, did not declare any next of kin in all his official documents,
including his Bank Deposit paperwork. This sum of USD$ 15,000,000.00 is still sitting in the
Bank and the interest is being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year.
No one will come forward to claim it.
 
According to the ABIDJAN COTE D'IVOIRE Law, at the expiration of 6 (six) years, the money
will revert to the ownership of the COTE D'IVOIRE Government if nobody applies to claim the
funds. Consequently, my proposal is that I would like you as a foreigner to stand in as the
next of kin to Eng.Thomas Bahinchi, so that the fruits of this old mans labour will not get
into the hands of some corrupt government officials.
 
As am still working in this Bank, what we have to do is very simple. You will send to me
your complete names, address and information’s which I will secretly programme in the
computer account file of late Eng.Thomas Bahinchi, as his registered associate/next of kin
before his death and who is entitle to inherit the deposit encase of death.
 
After that, I will send to you a text of an application letter for claim which you will re-
prepare your self and submit it to the banking and operation unit of our bank for their
approval, for the successful releasing and transfer of the fund to your account in your
country.
 
May I inform you that secrecy and honest should be a base for the success of this
transaction, base on this, me and you are much expected to keep this business very secret
and confidential.
 
I am promising that as soon as we get this fund transferred into your account, I will give
to you 40% of the total sum as a compensation for your full assistance, while 60 % will be
for me and I will be interested in investing part of my own share in a good investment in
your country.
 
If you are interested, please reply immediately via the private email address below or up.
Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more details that will help you understand
the deal very well. Please observe utmost confidentiality, and rest assured that this
transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require your assistance
to invest my share in your country..
 
Awaiting your urgent response via email ( zima.peters01@yahoo.fr ) feel free to call me for
more detail on this my telephone number +22549055178 call me, during evening our time which
is most confidential for us to discuses and by then, I must have close from work.
 
Best Regards,
Ms. Zima Peters
 

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