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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.SANOU" <sansteph01@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 1 Jun 2011 13:48:35 +0100 (BST)
Subject: How are you today?




Dear Friend,

Please do accept my sincere apologies if my mail does not meet your personal moral principles. I introduce myself as MR.SANOU W.STÉPHANE, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

So, I want to transfer to overseas the sum of Seven million three hundred United States of American dollars only (7,300,000.00€) I discovered the floating fund in an account opened in our bank for years.

As it may interest you to know the fund belong to one of our late costumers who made a numbered time Fixed Deposit for twelve calendar months valued at Seven million three hundred Euros only (7,300,000.00€).

Upon maturity I have sent a routine notification in accordance with the Bank policy to his forwarding address but got no reply.

Subsequent to a month we sent a reminder and at long last, we discovered from his contract employers that the owner of the account died without a [heir] and the money is now floating and if I do not find a way to remit this money out urgently it may be forfeited for nothing as i have found out that he died without making a WILL and he did not declare any NEXT OF KIN in all his official documents including his Bank Deposit paperwork in our Bank and all attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless.

So, be inform that no one will ever come forward to claim this money and according to the bank policy, at the expiration of 7 years the money will relapse to the ownership of the State (Government) if nobody be relevant to claim the above mentioned fund.

This prompted me to contact you by fronting you as the NEXT OF KIN to our late customer in that way making you the legal beneficiary of the 7,300,000.00€.

But, please if you are not capable to handle the business then, you can quietly look for a reliable and honest person who may be capable enough and fit to provide either an existing bank account or to set up a new Bank account immediately to receive this (7,300,000.00€) even an empty bank account can serve to receive this money, as long as you or the person will remain honest to me till the end of this important business trusting in you and believing in God that you will never let me down either now or in future.

And, I would like us to meet face to face if possible to build confidence and trust and to sign a binding agreement before transferring the money to any bank account of your choice where the fund will be secure before my arrival to your country for withdrawal, sharing and investments.

Please, I need your full co-operation to make this work fine because the management is almost ready to approve this fund to any foreign person who has correct information of this departed customer, and I will be here to give to you all the needed information for this claim to go smoothly.

In fact, call me as soon as possible and upon your positive response and once I am convinced that you are capable and will meet up with my instructions, I will forward to you all the details.

So, in the happening that you are genuinely interested in this business, then call me on phone for more details because this transaction entails constant communication.



I await your response urgently.

Regards,

Mr.Sanou W.Stephane

Phone: 0022675902804

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