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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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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: Paul Okoh <mutual_solution1945@yahoo.co.in>
Date: Thu, 22 Jun 2006 06:34:54 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Urgent


>From the Desk of:-
Mr. Paul Okoh.
Guaranty Trust Bank Plc,
#32 Guaranty Trust house,
Marina, Lagos.

Dear Sir,

I am Mr.Paul Okoh, Divisional Bank Manager of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Lagos Branch.
I have a very urgent & confidential business proposition for you.
On December 2002, Engr. M. Hanson who was a Consultant to Oil Servicing companies, and also a consultant/contractor with Nigerian Natural Liquefied Gas(NNLG), made a numbered time(fixed) deposit for twelve months, valued at USD$20,500,000.00 (TWENTY MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS) in my branch.
Upon maturity, I sent a routine notification to his forwarded address but got no reply. After a month, a reminder was sent, and yet no response. On furthering my inquiries, I discovered from his contract employers NNLG, that Engr. M. Hanson died in a domestic crash. This sum of USD$20,500,000.00 is still floating in the bank and the interest is being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year. If no one comes forward to claim it, at the expiration of 6 (six) years, it will be forfeited. The account will be permanently closed, and the proceeds put in the bank's treasury.
My proposal to you is that I will like you to stand in as the next of kin to Engr. M. Hanson.
In essence, I seek your consent to represent the next of kin to the deceased (since the supposed next of kin is dead), so that the deposit in this account valued at $20.5 million USD can be paid to you, and subsequently, you and I can share the money. 60% to me, 40% to you.
All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us seeing this deal through. As a pre-requisite, the following are needed:
1)I want you to provide your full name & address, telephone and fax number, so that we can commence.
2)A convenient bank account in any part of the world, to facilitate the transfer of this money to you as the next-of-kin (beneficiary). When the money is paid into your nominated account, the sharing mode will be in the ratio of 60% to me, and 40% to you. There is no risk at all, considering my position. All I require is your
trust, willingness, and capability to handle this transaction and your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through.
If this is acceptable, contact me immediately. Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more details. I also wish to use this opportunity to implore you to exercise the utmost indulgence to keep this issue extraordinarily confidential, no matter your decision.
I await your urgent reply.
Regards,
Paul Okoh

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