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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: ignetius ezigbo <ignetiusezigbo@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2006 12:27:31 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: URGENT RESPONSE


DEAR VICTIM-FULLNAME

I HEREBY THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSE TO MY OFFER WHICH I HOPE WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO BOTH PARTIES.

IT IS ALSO MY PLEASURE TO INFORM YOU THAT THIS IS NEVER A HOAX AND COMPLETELY LEGITIMATE ARRANGEMENT FOR THIS TRANSACTION AND ALL DOCUMENTATIONS WILL BE SECURE HERE BY ME FOR THE ONWARD APPROVAL AND TRANSFER OF T HE FUND IN YOUR NAME AS BENEFICIARY. THESE DOCUMENTS WHEN SECURED WILL BE FORWARDED TO ALL AGENCIES CONCERNED FOR IMMEDIATE APPROVAL WHICH I PERSONALLY WILL POLICE THEM FOR QUICK ENDORSEMENT TO ACHIEVEMENT THIS GOAL, I NEED, VIZ

1. YOUR FULL NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE PAPER WORKS.
2. YOUR COMPANY’S NAME AND ADDRESS IF ANY. THE ABOVE IS FOR AFFIDAVIT REGISTRATION, NOTARISATION AND NORMALISATION FOR THE TRANSFER.
3. I W ILL MOSTLY NEED TO REACHING YOU REGULARLY FOR BRIEFING THE OUTGOING AND HOW THE FINAL CREDITS SHALL BE MADE TO YOUR ACCOUNT. IN THIS VEIN, I NEED YOUR PRIVATE TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBER FOR URGENT COMMUNICATIONS.

NOTE THAT MY OWN SHARE OF THE TOTAL VALUE REMAINS THE SAME 60% WHILE YOUR IS 40% RESPECTIVELY. I HAVE DECIDED TO INVEST MY OWN PART OF T HE FUND AFTER IN YOUR COUNTRY BASED ON WHERE AND HOW YOU ADVICE ME. WE SHALL MEET FACE TO FACE IN YOUR COUNTRY AFTER THE TRANSFER FRO SHARING THE PROCEED OF THIS BUSINESS.

PLEASE, FEEL FREE TO CO-OPERATE WITH ME. YOU WILL NEVER BE DISAPPOINTED OR REGRET ANY ASSISTANCE YOU GIVE TO ME. I WILL ALSO SEND YOU COPIES OF THE PAPER WORKS AFTER THE TRANSFER TO BACK THE DEPOSIT.

THANKS FOR YOUR CONCERN

BEST REGARDS
IGNETIUS EZIGBO


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