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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: "Dr.Martin Ukeh" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <dr.matinukeh@sify.com>
Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2010 19:14:47 +0800
Subject: BUSINESS PLAN

 
CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS PLAN
         
FROM DR.MARTIN UKEH.
BRANCH MANAGER, BOND BANK BENIN ,
COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC .
I feel quite safe dealing with you in this business proposition having
gone through your remarkable profile on the internet.  Though, this medium (Internet) has been greatly abused, I choose to reach you through it because it still remains the fastest, surest and most secured medium of communication which this business demands.However, this my mail is unofficial but private, and it should be treated as such.
I also guarantee you that this deal is hitch free from all what you may
have heard or think of it. I am Dr.UKEH MARTIN, the branch manager BOND BANK BENIN , COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC . I am contacting you based on
trust and confidentiality that will be needed in this business.
The Management and the Legal department of my Bank in their recent Board meeting, recommended that the account of Mrs.Erica Schwenk a foreigner, who was one of my branch depositor should be declared dormant and unclaimed, which means the money has to be confisticated through the  Bank Treasury according to BENIN REPUBLIC Banking and Financial law.
She is a foreigner based in the Northern part of BENIN REPUBLIC ; unfortunately she died on a fatal auto accident on October 3rd, 1999. Her account balance as at the time of her untimely death was USD$11.5M (Eleven Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only). In fact it happened that since her death, the next of kin to her who is a brother to her, has not shown up for the claim.
>From here i pick interest on this issue hence I want you to come in. I want you to come in as the relation of the deceased, I will give you the contact of the attorney, you will have to write to him Telling him you are a relation to the deceased and that you have found out that Mrs.Erica schwenk has an account with BOND BANK BENIN,COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC BRANCH which you wants to lay claims through his legal authority.
I assured you that he will be very happy to assist you.
I will stand to provide you with the information and vital documents for the claims. Please include your telephone/fax number/ Home Address when replying to this mail and I will give you more information as soon as you indicate your willingness to assist in this transaction. We will use our positions to get all internal documentations to back up the claims.
The whole Procedures will last only 7 working days to get the fund
retrieved successfully without trace even in future.
Please i need the following:
1. YOUR FULL NAME AND ADDRESS, HOME/OFFICE
2.PHONE AND FAX NUMBER, HOME/OFFICE
3.YOUR BANKING DETAILS, ADDRESS, TEL/FAX N! UMBERS, ACCOUNT NUMBER AND   ROUTING OR SORTING CODE.
4. THE COUNTRY YOU ARE PRESENTLY RESIDING AND YOUR NATIONALITY.
After successful execution of this transaction, we shall share the money as follows: 30% for you, While 65% for me and My Colleagues, 5% for any expenses we might incure both Local and International.
Awaiting your quick response.
Yours truly,
DR.UKEH MARTIN

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