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: "BARRISTER COLINS MOSCO" <barristercolinsmosco1@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: barrcolinsmosco@breakthru.com
Date: Mon, 28 Nov 2005 10:12:11 +0000
Subject: URGENT

Colins mosco & Co.2,Robotson Soetan Street,
off Kings Way,Lekki Peninsula ,
Lagos,Nigeria.
 
Dear Friend,
 
This is a proposal in context but actually an appeal soliciting for your unreserved assistance in consummating an urgent transaction requiring maximum confidence. Though this approach appears Desperate, I can assure you that whatever questions you would need to ask or any other thing you will need to know regarding this proposal will be adequately answered to give you a clearer understanding of it, so as to arrive at a successful conclusion.
 
My name is Colins Mosco, an Attorney to a foreign Client Mr. Andrea Schranner, he made several secret (fixed) Deposits for twelve calendar months, valued at US$20.5M, (Twenty million five hundred thousand Dollars) in a domiciliary coded account with Union Home Trust Limited Nigeria. Upon maturity, the said funds could not be rolled over because he died in a plane crash during his visit to United State of America (U.S.A) with his family. See,               
                                          
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm
 
Presently only, the account’s officer and my self are acquainted with this deposits; he did not include anyone as his spouse or next of kin in his portfolio because the documents to this effect were still being prepared until the unfortunate incident. The funds have been moved out of the bank (as sundry funds) to an offshore Deposit Company in Europe. This is the custom of the TRUST company in respect of demised foreign account depositor with no next-of-kin. The TRUST COMPANY is waiting, my submission his as his attorney as they are aware that he had given me permission to prepare and submit his next of keen before his fatal journey.
 
From past experiences, I know that no one will ever come forward to claim the deceased funds. According to Nigerian laws, at the expiration of 5 (five) years, the funds will be Unclaimed. In order to avert this negative development, (the accounts Officer in the bank) and I do seek your permission to do a CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP/REASSIGNMENT OF CREDIT of stated funds from the 'deceased' to your name, so that the funds (US$20.5M) would be released to you as the next-of-kin (on behalf of account officer and I). We are writing you because; we cannot transfer the money to ourselves with out raising strong suspicion. Consequently, you will be presented as the appointed next of kin and therefore the bona fide owner of the funds in the Deposit Company so you can be able to claim them; after all necessary paperwork has being effected. For us to commence, I will like you to provide the following information immediately.
 
1.  Full Names
2.  Contact Address
3.  Telephone and Fax numbers
 
Once I receive this information, I will prepare the necessary document, which will put you in place as the new owner of the funds. The money would then be released in your favor by the Deposit Company, for us to share in the ratio of 70% for us and 30% for you. This deal is safe as all the paperwork for this transaction will be done by me the solicitor and this will guarantee the successful execution of this transaction. If you are interested, please reply via my email Address.
Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more details, and further explanation that will help you understand the transaction. No doubt this proposal will make you apprehensive, please we implore you to observe utmost confidentiality and be rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for both of us because we shall require your assistance to invest our share in your country (Real estate and any other ideas you may have). This is why your urgent action and response is of great essence which will enable us concluding this transaction in a timely and professional manner.
 
I await your swift response hoping you accept my proposal, as time is of equal essence in this project as well as its confidentiality.
 
Thank you and have a nice day.
 
Respectfully yours,
 
Barrister Colins Mosco

Anti-fraud resources: