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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: Jin Mao <jmjinmao@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 3 Dec 2014 23:50:01 -0800
Subject: To Your Attention


I am Mr.Abdul Masoud, Bank Manager of African Development Bank (ADB)
Coutonu, Benin Republic. I have urgent and very confidential business
proposition for you. I got your contact from my private search for a
reliable and trusted foreign partner.

On June 6 1998, a foreign oil consultant/contractor with the Ghana National
Oil Company, Mr. T.J.,Steier, made a numbered time (Fixed) deposit for
twelve calendar months, valued at US$12,500,000.00 (Twelve Million Hundred
Thousand United States Dollars) in my branch. Upon maturity, I sent a
routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After a
month, we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his contract
employers, Ghana National Oil Company that he died in an automobile
accident.

On further investigation, I found out that he did not leave a WILL and all
attempts to trace his next of kin were fruitless. I therefore made further
investigation and discovered that he did not declare any next of kin in all
his official documents, including his Bank Deposit paperwork. This sum of
US$12,500,000.00 is still sitting in the Bank and the interest is being
rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year. No one will
come forward to claim it. According to the Bank Law, at the expiration of
6{Six} years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Bank if nobody
applies to claim the funds.

Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you to stand in as the next
of kin to him so that the fruits of this old man's labor will not be in
vain nor get into the hands of some corrupt government officials. This is
simple. Since I work in this bank as the Branch Manager that is more reason
why you should be confident in the success of this transaction because you
will be updated with information as at when desired. I am handicapped
because I cannot operate foreign accounts and cannot lay bonafide claim
over this money. The client was a foreign national and you will only be
asked to act as his next of kin and I will supply you with all the
necessary information and bank data to assist you in being able to transfer
this money to any bank of your choice where this funds could be transferred
into.

1) I will like you to provide me immediately with your full names and
address so that the attorney will prepare the necessary documents and
affidavits, which will put you in place as the next of kin.

2) We shall employ the services of two attorneys for drafting and
notarization of the WILL and obtain the necessary documents and letter of
probate/administration in your favor for the transfer.

3) A bank account in any part of the world, which you provide, will then
facilitate the transfer of this money to you as the beneficiary/next of kin
. The money will be paid into your account for us to share in the ratio of
60% for me and 40% for you.

There is no risk at all as all the paperwork for this transaction will be
done by the attorney and my position as the Branch Manager guarantees the
successful execution of this transaction. If you are interested, please
reply immediately via the private email address above. Upon your response,
I shall then provide you with more details and relevant documents that will
help you understand.

Please observe utmost confidentiality, and rest assured that this
transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require
your assistance to invest my share in your country. Please Kindly Forward
Your Reply To My Private E-mail ID: abdulmasoud201@gmail.com

Awaiting your urgent reply

Thanks and regards,

Mr. Abdul Masoud.
Branch Manager
African Development Bank (ADB)
Benin Republic.

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