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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: "Emeka Okonkwo" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <emekaokonkwo2018@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 4 Jan 2017 17:36:02 +0100
Subject: Can I Trust You Sir/Madam?

 
HEAD OFFICE.
STALLION PLAZA 36, MARINA
P.M.B 2027 LAGOS, NIGERIA
 
DEAR ATTN SIR/MADAM.
 
I AM SORRY FOR CONTACTING YOU THROUGH THIS MEDIUM WITHOUT A PREVIOUS NOTICE; I HAD TO USE THE E-MAIL BECAUSE IT IS AN EASIER AND MORE CONFIDENTIAL WAY OF MAKING CONTACT WITH PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD.
 
MY NAME IS EMEKA OKONKWO A BANKER, WITH UNION BANK PLC.I HAPPEN TO BE THE CHIEF ACCOUNT OFFICER TO LATE ENG. PETER OPTIZ, A NATIONAL OF YOUR COUNTRY, WHO USED TO WORK WITH CHEVRON- DEVELOPMENT COMPANY IN NIGERIA. HERE IN AFTER SHALL BE REFERRED TO AS MY CLIENT. ON THE SUNDAY, 2 FEBRUARY, 2003, 18:50 GMT, MY CLIENT, HIS WIFE AND THEIR THREE CHILDREN WERE INVOLVED IN EKEJA BOMB BLAST. WHICH ALL OCCUPANTS UNFORTUNATELY LOST THEIR LIVES?
 
PLEASE VIEW THESE WEBSITES BELOW TO CONFIRM
 
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/2718295.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/2698081.stm
 
SINCE THEN I HAVE MADE SEVERAL INQUIRIES TO YOUR EMBASSY TO LOCATE ANY OF MY CLIENTS EXTENDED RELATIVES. AFTER THESE SEVERAL UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS, I DECIDED TO TRACK HIS LAST NAME OVER THE INTERNET, TO LOCATE ANY MEMBER OF HIS FAMILY SO THAT THE PROCEED OF THE FUNDS CAN BE PAID TO HIM FOR OUR MUTUAL BENEFIT.
 
THE REASON I HAVE CONTACTED YOU IS TO ASSIST ME IN REPATRIATING THE MONEY AND PROPERTY LEFT BEHIND BY MY LATE CLIENT BEFORE THE BANKS GET THE FUNDS CONFISCATED OR DECLARED IT UNSERVICEABLE BY THE BANK WHERE THIS FUNDS IS AT THE MOMENT.
 
PARTICULARLY, THE BANK OPERATION MANAGER WHERE THE DECEASED HAD AN ACCOUNT VALUED AT ABOUT USD $35.5 MILLION DOLLARS HAS ISSUED ME A NOTICE TO PROVIDE THE NEXT OF KIN TO THIS FUNDS OR HAVE THE ACCOUNT CONFISCATED WITHIN THE NEXT THIRTY (30) WORKING OFFICIAL DAYS.
 
SINCE I HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN LOCATING THE RELATIVES FOR OVER 4 YEARS NOW I SEEK YOUR CONSENT TO PRESENT YOU AS THE NEXT OF KIN TO THE DECEASED SINCE YOU HAVE THE SAME LAST NAME WITH MY CLIENT SO THAT THE PROCEEDS OF THIS ACCOUNT VALUED AT USD35.5 MILLION DOLLARS CAN BE PAID OUT TO YOU, AND THEN YOU AND ME CAN SHARE THE MONEY.60% TO ME AND 40% FOR YOU.
 
NOT WITH STANDING, I HAVE ALL NECESSARY LEGAL DOCUMENTS THAT CAN BE USED TO BACK UP THIS CLAIM IN A RISK FREE ATMOSPHERE THAT WILL PROTECT YOU AND ME FROM ANY BREACH OF THE LAW. ALL I REQUIRES OF YOU IS YOUR TOTAL HONEST AND ABOVE ALL COOPERATION AS TO ENABLE US SEEING THIS DEAL A SUCCESS.
 
I GUARANTEE YOU THAT THIS TRANSACTION WILL BE EXECUTED UNDER A LEGITIMATE ARRANGEMENT THAT WILL PROTECT OUR BOTH FAMILY FROM ANY BREACH OF THE LAW. YOU ADVICE TO KEEP THIS TRANSACTION VERY CONFIDENTIAL FOR SECURITY REASON.
 
PLEASE GET IN TOUCH WITH ME BY MY PRIVATE EMAIL (EMEKAOKONKWO@UNIONBANKNIG.COM)
 
BEST REGARDS.
 
EMEKA OKONKWO
COOPERATE AND INTERNATIONAL BANKING
 
 
 
 

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