419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- goodisonbrad@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: GB International LLC <goodisonbradintllc@live.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 28 Feb 2014 09:29:59 +0000
Subject: REF: BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY WITH STANBIC IBTC BANK AND GB
INTERNATIONAL LLC

From:MR.GOODISON BRAD,Subject: STANBIC IBTC BANK.
Your Assistance is Needed From The Desk Of Goodison Brad Chairman Risk Committee Stanbic IBTC Bank,Lagos Nigeria.
Dear,Bearing in mind the nature of the content of this letter coming from a person without any referral, I apologize for any inconvenience, but please read and objectively consider if we can work together.
My name is Goodison Brad. I am member, board of directors/chairman risk committee of Stanbic IBTC Bank, Lagos Nigeria and M/D GB International LLC. I am responsible for all risk and financial policies. I am pleased to get across to you for a very confidential and profitable business proposal. This involves a foreign client of ours who died as a result of plane crash on 31 july, 2000.His name Christian Eich. Is unfortunate that our client and all His family members lost their lifes in that plane crash with other passengers on board, take a look for your confirmation,( http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/859479.stm).
My client had an investment on fixed deposit value at Eight Million, Four Hundred & Ninety Thousand Great Britain pounds(8,490,000.00 GBP), deposited in our bank here with no nominated successor in title over this investment. Our bank where his money was deposited has issued me a notice to contact the next of kin, or the account will be confiscated. I want you to assist me by standing as next of kin to my late client otherwise this money will be sent to the treasury by the bank.
I have legal and totally risk free means through which the fund can be released to you within a very short time after due documentation and authentication process. The strategy is to use my position and influence the accountant of the deceased to present you as his next of Kin and beneficiary of the deposit so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you.
I want to assure you that I have concluded all local modalities for the successful transaction of this fund within ten banking days of your agreement to proceed with me as the required assistance are perfected to be safe and without any breach of law. Please contact me at once to indicate your interest. I will like you to acknowledge the receipt of this mail as soon as possible via my private E-mail(goodisonbrad@yahoo.com) and treat with absolute confidentiality and sincerity as I look forward to your quick reply and assistance.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam