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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: ken ralphru <kenralphru@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2006 17:05:33 -0800 (PST)
Subject: VERY URGENT


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: kenralphru@yahoo.com

MR THE DESK OF MR. KENRALPH OKOLIE

WEMA BANK PLC


Dear Sir/ Madam


I AM MR KENRALPH OKOLIE THE MANAGER, BILLS AND EXCHANGE AT

THE FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT OF WEMA BANK PLC .


I AM WRITING THIS LETTER TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND

COOPERATION TO CARRY OUT THIS BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY IN MY

DEPARTMENT WE DISCOVERED AN ABANDONED SUM OF $32,000,000.00

THIRTY TWO MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY) IN AN ACCOUNT

THAT BELONGS TO ONE OF OUR FOREIGN CUSTOMERS ENGR STEVE

MOORE WHO DIED ALONG WITH HIS ENTIRE FAMILY OF A WIFE AND

TWO CHILDREN IN NOVEMBER 2000 IN A PLANE CRASH.SINCE WE

HEARD OF HIS DEATH,WE HAVE BEEN EXPECTING HIS NEXT-OF-KIN

TO COME OVER AND PUT CLAIMS FOR HIS MONEY AS THE HEIR,

BECAUSE WE CANNOT RELEASE THE FUND FROM HIS ACCOUNT UNLESS

SOMEONE APPLIES FOR CLAIM AS THE NEXT-OF-KIN TO THE

DECEASED AS INDICATED IN OUR BANKING GUIDELINES.


UNFORTUNATELY, NEITHER THEIR FAMILY MEMBER NOR DISTANT

RELATIVE HAS EVER APPEARED TO CLAIM THE SAID FUND.


UPON THIS DISCOVERY, I HAVE DECIDED TO MAKE BUSINESS WITH

YOU AND RELEASE THE TOTAL AMOUNT INTO YOUR ACCOUNT AS THE

HEIR OF THE FUND SINCE NO ONE CAME FOR IT OR DISCOVERED THE

MAINTAINED ACCOUNT WITH OUR BANK, OTHERWISE THE FUND WILL

BE RETURNED TO THE BANKS TREASURY AS UNCLAIMED FUND.


I HAVE AGREED THAT OUR RATIO OF SHARING WILL BE AS STATED

THUS; 30 % FOR YOU AS FOREIGN PARTNER,60 % FOR ME AND 10 %

FOR THE SETTLEMENT OF ALL LOCAL AND FOREIGN EXPENCES

INCURRED BY YOU AND ME DURING THE COURSE OF THIS BUSINESS.


UPON THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THIS TRANSFER, I WILL

COME TO YOUR COUNTRY AND MIND MY SHARE. IT IS FROM THE 60 %

I INTEND TO IMPORT AGRICULTURAL MACHINERIES INTO MY COUNTRY

AS A WAY OF RECYCLING THE FUND.


TO COMMENCE THIS TRANSACTION,I REQUIRE YOU TO IMMEDIATELY

INDICATE YOUR INTEREST BY A RETURN E-MAIL AND ENCLOSE YOUR

PRIVATE CONTACT TELEPHONE NUMBER, FAX NUMBER FULL NAME AND

ADDRESS AND YOUR DESIGNATED BANK COORDINATES TO ENABLE ME

FILE LETTER OF CLAIM TO THE APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENTS FOR

NECESSARY APPROVALS BEFORE THE TRANSFER CAN BE MADE.


NOTE ; THIS TRANSACTION MUST BE KEPT STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL

BECAUSE OF ITS NATURE. I LOOK FORWARD TO RECEIVING YOUR

PROMPT RESPONSE.GET BACK TO ME ON ANY OF THIS EMAIL

ADDRESSES ,kphoko@walla.com


PLEASE YOUR CONFIDENTIALITY IS HIGLY REQUIRED AS THIS

TRANSACTION NEEDS AN UTMOST CONFIDENTIALITY.

REGARDS,


MR KENRALPH OKOLIE

WEMA BANK PLC

- ken ralph@myway.com


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