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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 Ito Koga <dr.ito.koga@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 1 Jul 2014 10:05:58 +0200
Subject: MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING.

Dear Friend.

This Message Might Meet You In Utmost Surprise. However, It's Just My
Urgent Need For Foreign Partner That Made Me To Contact You For This
Transaction. I Got Your Contact From Burkina Faso Chambers Of Commerce
While I Was Searching For A Foreign Partner.

I Am A Banker By Profession From Burkina Faso In West Africa And Currently
Holding The Post Of Manager Of Bill And Exchange At The Foreign Remittance
Department, Bank Of Africa I Have The Opportunity Of Transferring The Left
Over Sum Of US $13,700,000.00 That Belongs To One Of My Bank Clients Who
Died Along With His Entire Family In The Tsunami Disaster In Indonesia And
India 2004 And Since Then The Fund Has Been In A Suspense Account.

After My Further Investigation, I Discovered That He Died With His Next Of
Kin And According To The Laws And Constitution Guiding This Banking
Institution Stated That After The Expiration Of (6) Six Years, If No Body
Or Person Comes For The Claim As The Next Of Kin, The Fund Will Be Channel
Into National Treasury As Unclaimed Fund. Because Of The Static Of This
Transaction I Want You To Stand As The Next Of Kin So That Our Bank Will
Accord You Their Recognition And Have The Fund Transfer To Your Account.

Hence, I Am Inviting You For A Business Deal Where This Money Can Be Shared
Between Us In The Ratio Of 60% For Me And 40% For You. And Any Expenses
Incidentally Occurred During The Transfer Will Be Incur By Both Of Us. The
Transfer Is Risk Free On Both Sides Hence You Are Going To Follow My
Instruction Till The Fund Transfer To Your Account.

Further Details Of The Transfer And Text Of Application Form Will Be
Forwarded To You As Soon As I Receive Your Return Mail And You Should
Contact Me Immediately As Soon As You Receive This Letter.

Your Full Name.............................
Your Sex.....................................
Your Age..................................
Your Country..................................
Marital Status.......................
Your Occupation..............................
Your Personal Mobile Number....................
Your Personal Fax Number.......................

Trusting To Hear From You Immediately.
Regards,
Dr.Ito Koga.

Anti-fraud resources: