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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. Usman Bello" <drusman.bello7@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2010 04:25:25 -0700
Subject: THE DIRECTOR,UNION BANK PLC

WE WRITE TO ENQUIRE FROM YOU IF YOU HAVE SENT SOMEBODY FROM SWITZERLAND
MR SCHEMIRLT AND SOME LONDON REPRESENTATIVE MR CHELSEA TO MAKE CLAIM ON
YOUR BEHALF.

TODAY AT LAGOS NIGERIA 10.00 AM NIGERIA TIME, MR SCHEMIRLAT AND YOUR
LONDON REPRESENTATIVE CAME TO THE BANK SAYING THAT YOU HAVE SENT THEM TO
MAKE CLAIM ON YOUR BEHALF OF YOUR FUND. I INITIALLY INSTRUCTED FOR THE
RELEASE OF THE FUND TO THEM AS THEY CAME WITH ALL
OBLIGATORY DOCUMENTS.

BUT ON CROSS CHECKING OF YOUR FILE, I DISCOVERED THAT THE BANK ACCOUNT
NUMBER THEY PRESENTED WAS DIFFERENT FROM YOUR OWN BANK ACCOUNT AND THE
BENEFICARY OF THE ACCOUNT THBY BROUGHT IS CHANGORI AND CHANGORI MAKE US TO
SUSPECT THEM, THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER IN THE BANK NOW AND WE HAVE GIVEN
A MANDATE TO RELEASE THIS FUND TO YOU.

NOW WE HAVE REQUESTED THEM TO FORWARD A POWER OF ATTORNEY FROM
YOU,INFORMING THE BANK UNION BANK NIGERIA PLC , OF THE CHANGE IN YOUR
ACCOUNT NUMBER. THIS THEY COULD NOT PRODUCE IMMEDIATELY. I HAVE ASKED
THEM TO COME BACK IN TWO DAYS TIME, THIS IS TO ENABLE US CONTACT YOU AND
VERIFY HOW GENUINE THESE TWO PEOPLE ARE TO YOU, THOUGH THEY PROMISED TO
PRODUCE THE POWER OF ATTORNEY ON THEIR NEXT VISIT TO THE BANK. I HAVE
DEEMED IT NECESSARY TO CONTACT YOU AND ASCERTAIN THE TRUE POSITION IN
OTHER TO AVOID REMITTING THESE FUNDS INTO A WRONG ACCOUNT.

COULD YOU PLEASE GET BACK TO ME URGENTLY WITH THE REQUESTED
INFORMATIONS BELOW TO CONFIRM MATTERS BEFORE WE START TAKING LEGAL
ACTION, BUT IF THEY ARE FROM YOU, KINDLY GIVE THEM THE POWER OF ATTORNEY
FOR THE PAYMENT OF THE FUNDS INTO THE SWITZERLAND ACCOUNT UBS AG BANKING
SWITZERLAND.

1. Your Full Name and Address
2. Direct Phone/Fax number
3. Your Age and Nationality
Executive Governor,

THE DIRECTOR,UNION BANK PLC
Dr Dr.usman bell

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