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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: Bruno Monroe <info.couttsinvestment@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 12:17:42 +0100
Subject: From Mr. Bruno Monroe


Hello
After much consideration, I have decided to contact you over a business
proposal that will be of mutual benefit to both of us. I am Mr. Bruno
Monroe. I am a staff of a big bank here in Republic of Benin. I seek your
consent and assistance in a confidential deal. Kindly review my letter.

On July 21st 2000 an Importer of Textiles and Automobiles made a numbered
time (Fixed) Deposit for valued at Euro 8.2million in my branch for five
years. Upon maturity in 2005 we sent routine notification to his forwarding
address but got no reply. A year later in 2006 we sent a reminder but yet
no response. This triggered an investigation with the result that our
client was one of the passengers who died with his family in the ill-fated
plane crash involving a UTA Boeing 727 Chartered Flight that took off from
Cotonou Benin Republic and crashed into Atlantic Ocean on 25th December
2003. [For further details of the Plane Crash, Please Visit
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3348109.stm,] Again, further
investigation showed that the Client did not declare any next of kin or
relations in all his official documents, including his Bank Deposit paper
work in our Bank. This sum of Eight Million Two Hundred Thousand Euros is
still sitting in my Bank with no one to claim it.

According to our national Banking Ethics and Laws, at the expiration of the
allowed period, the money will revert to the ownership of the Benin
Government if nobody applies to claim it. Consequently, my proposal is that
I present you as a foreigner to stand in as the next of kin to the deceased
and claim this money for us to share on a percentage to be agreed upon.
This is simple and risk free. I have secured all relevant documents needed
to claim payment and I am sure to achieve this legally. All I need from you
is to process the payment and receive the money. If you can handle this,
send me your full names, physical address, occupation, date of birth and
phone number. This is to enable me update records in our office before you
send an application asking for payment.
Kind regards
Mr. Bruno Monroe
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hola
Después de mucha consideración, he decidido en contacto con usted sobre una
propuesta que será de beneficio mutuo para los dos. Yo soy el Sr. Bruno
Monroe. Soy un personal de un gran banco de la República de Benin. Busco su
consentimiento y asistencia en un acuerdo confidencial. Por favor revise mi
carta.

El 21 de julio de 2000 un importador de Textiles y automóviles hizo una
numerada tiempo (fijo) depósito por valor de Euro 8.2million en mi rama
durante cinco años. Al vencimiento en el año 2005 hemos enviado
notificación rutinaria a su dirección pero obtener respuesta. Un año más
tarde en el año 2006 hemos enviado un recordatorio pero todavía no hay
respuesta. Esto desencadenó una investigación con el resultado de que
nuestro cliente fue uno de los pasajeros que murieron con su familia en el
funesto accidente involucrando un vuelo fletado de Boeing 727 UTA que
despegó de Cotonou Benin República y se estrelló en el océano Atlántico el
25 de diciembre de 2003. [Para más información sobre el avión estrellarse,
por favor visite http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3348109.stm] Una vez
más, la investigación adicional demostró que el cliente no declaró ningún
pariente o relaciones en todos sus documentos oficiales, incluyendo su
trabajo de depósito bancario en el banco. Esta suma de 8,2 millones de
Euros sigue sentado en mi banco con nadie para reclamarlo.

Según nuestro nacional banca ética y las leyes, a la expiración del período
permitido, el dinero volverá a la titularidad del gobierno de Benin si
nadie se aplica para reclamarlo. Por lo tanto, mi propuesta es que os
presento como un extranjero para presentarse como los familiares del
fallecido y reclamar este dinero para que compartamos un porcentaje
acordado. Esto es simple y libre de riesgo. He asegurado todos los
documentos pertinentes necesarios para reclamar el pago y estoy seguro que
ello legalmente. Todo lo que necesito de ti es procesar el pago y recibir
el dinero. Si puedes manejar esto, enviame llena tu nombre, dirección
física, ocupación, fecha de nacimiento y número de teléfono. Esto es que me
permiten actualizar registros en nuestra oficina antes de que usted envía
una solicitud de pago.
Atentamente
Sr. Bruno Monroe

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