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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: "rachid gambo" <rachidgambo@msn.com>
Date: Mon, 19 Sep 2005 10:08:48 +0000
Subject: STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL

FROM:MR. RACHID GAMBO,
AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING SECT,
FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPT.
STANDARD TRUST BANK,LAGOS-NIGERIA.
CEL:00234 8038345656
 
ATTENTION:
 
                                                  STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
 
       I am Rachid Gambo, the director in charge of auditing and accounting section of STANDARD TRUST BANK,LAGOS-NIGERIA with due respect and regard. I have decided to contact you on a business transaction that will be very beneficial to both of us at the end of the said
transaction .
       During investigation and auditing of accounts, my department came across a very huge sum of money belonging to a deceased customer who died on the 25th of December 2003,on a chartered Boeing 727 jet bound for Beirut, Lebanon, crashed after hitting a building on takeoff, killing at least 140 people in Cotonou,Republic of Benin and since then his account has been dormant with this Bank without any claim to the fund in our custody either from his family or relations before our discovery.Although personally,I keep this information as top secret to enable the whole plans and idea be profitable and successful during the course of execution. The said amount was US$20.5M (Twenty million five hundred thousand united states dollars).
       As it may interest you to know, I got your impressive information through the international
consultant chamber of commerce,organisations,diplomatic missions and individuals around the world here in Abuja-Nigeria, where I was seaching for a good reliable contact to do this business with, elated I was when I saw your address before proposing the business to you.Meanwhile all the whole arrangement to put claims over this fund as the bonafide next of kin to the deceased,the required approval and transfer of this money to a foreign account has been put in place,Other  directives and needed information will be relayed to you as soon as you indicate your interest and willingness to assist us and also benefit yourself of this great business opportunity.
       Infact, I could have done this deal alone but because of my position in this country as a civil
servant,we are not allowed to operate a foreign bank accounts as a way the Government uses to check fraud in high places. This is the actual reason why it will require a second party or fellow who will forward claims as the next of kin with affidavit of oath to the Bank and also present a foreign account where he will need the money to be transferred into on his/her request as it may be after due verification and clarification by the correspondent branch of the bank,where the whole money will be remitted from to your own designation bank account.
         I will not fail to inform you that this transaction is 100% risk free. On smooth conclusion of
this transaction, you will be entitled to 20% of the total sum as gratification, while 2% will be set aside to take care of expenses that may arise during the time of transfer and also telephone bills,while 78%  will be for me and my partners. Please,you have been adviced to keep top secret as we are still in service and intend to retire from service after we conclude this deal with you.
         I will be monitoring the whole situation here in the bank until you confirm the money in your account.Which we will eventually come down to your country for  sharing of the fund according to the specified percentages as indicated.All other necessary information will be sent
to you when I hear from you.Stating your wish in this deal.
 
Best Regard,
Rachid Gambo.

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