joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "MR WILLIAMS OKON" <williams_okon52@box.az> (may be fake)
Reply-To: williams_okon52@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 28 Sep 2004 05:34:29 +0100
Subject: URGENT/CONFIDENTIAL

ORIENT BANK NIGERIA PLC,
PHASE 2,NEW APAPA ROAD,
LAGOS NIGERIA.
TEL\FAX +234-1-4713889
MOBILE NUMBER:+234-8033067362
CONFIDENTIAL EMAIL ADDRESS:williams_okon52@yahoo.com

ATTN: THE PRESIDENT/CEO,

I am MR WILLIAMS OKON, Branch Manager Orient Bank Nigeria plc Apapa Lagos Nigeria. I have urgent and very confidential business proposal for you.
On June 6, 1997,a JORDAN Oil consultant/contractor with the Nigerian NationalPetroleum Corporation, Mr.KHALED ALI made a numbered time(Fixed)Deposit for twelve calendar months, valued at US$17,800,000.00 (Seventeen Million Eight hundred thousand 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, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation that Mr.KHALED ALI died from an autocrash accident.On further investigation and discovered that Mr. KHALED ALI did not declare any kin or relations in all his official documents,including his Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank. This sum of US$17,800,000.00 is still sitting in my Bank and the interest is being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year.
No one has ever come forward to claim it.Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in as the next of kin to Mr.KHALED ALI so that the fruits of this old man's labour will not get into the hands of some corrupt government officials.This is simple, I will like youto provide immediately 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. We shall employ the service of two Attorneys for drafting and notarization of the WILL and to obtain the necessary documents and letter of probate/administration in your favorfor the transfer.
A bank account in any part of the world which you will 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 80% for me and 20% 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 my CONFIDENTIAL email address:williams_okon52@yahoo.com.Upon your response,I shall then provide you with more details regarding this transaction.Please observe utmost confidentiality, and be rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require your assistance to invest part of my share in your country.MAY THE ALMIGHTY ALLAH BLESS YOU.Awaiting your urgent Reply.

Regards,

MR. WILLIAMS OKON.
BRANCH MANAGER,ORIENT BANK NIGERIA PLC.



Anti-fraud resources: