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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.

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Fraud email example:

From: max10wapo@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 21 Jun 2005 11:14:46 +0200
Subject: Mr.MAX WAPO

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am the Bill and Exchange (assistant) Manager of the First and Bank Of South Africa (FRBSA) Mr MAX WAPO.In my
department I discovered an abandoned sum of USD$12.500.000(Twelve Million Five Hundred U.S.A
Dollars).In an account that belongs to one of our foreign customer (TOMPSON MORRIS) who died along with his wife and
two children in November 2000 in a plane crash.

Since we got information about his death, we have been expecting his next of kin to come over and claim his money
because we cannot release it unless somebody applies for it as next of kin or relation to the deceased, as indicated in
our banking guidelines but unfortunately we learnt that all his supposed next of kin or relation died alongside with
him in the plane crash leaving nobody behind for the claim.

It is therefore upon this discovery that I in my department now decided to make this business proposals to you and
release the money to you as next of kin or relation to the deceased for safety and subsequent disbursement since
nobody is coming for it and we don't want this money to go into the bank treasury as unclaimed fund. The banking law
and guidelines here stipulates that if such money remains unclaimed after five years, the money will be transferred
into the bank treasury as unclaimed fund.

The request of foreigner in this transaction is necessary because our late customer was a foreigner and a South
Africa cannot stand as next of kin to a foreigner. We agree that 25% of this money will be for you as foreigner
partner, in respect to the provision of a foreign account,5% will be set aside for expenses incurred during
the business and 70% would be for me and my colleague, after which we shall visit your country for disbursement
according to the percentages indicated.

Therefore to enable the immediate transfer of this fund to you as arranged, you must apply first to the bank, and send
your account number, your private telephone and fax number for easy and effective communication and location where the
money will be remitted.

Upon receipt of your reply, I will send to you by fax or e-mail the text of the application, which you shall retype
and fax to our foreign remittance, for easy execution of the transaction.

I will not fail to bring to your notice that this transaction is 100% hitch-free on both sides. As all
required arrangement have been made for the transfer. You should contact me immediately as soon as you receive this
letter.

Trusting to hear from you immediately. I expect you?re
urgent reply.

Best Regards,

Mr.MAX WAPO.

Bill and Exchange(Assist)Manager.

First Rand Bank Of South Africa(FRBSA)

Johannesburg South Africa.

Email (max10wapo@hotmail.com)

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