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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: bendu konowa <b.kono.19@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <bendukonowa_ak1@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 17 May 2007 05:49:10 +0000
Subject: URGENT



DEAR ,PERMIT ME TO INFORM YOU OF MY DESIRE OF GOINGINTO BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU.I GOT YOUR NAMEAND CONTACT FROM THE IVORIES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANDINDUSTRY.I PRAYED OVER IT AND SELECTED YOUR NAME AMONGOTHER NAMES DUE TO ITS ESTEEMING NATURE AND THERECOMMENDATIONS GIVEN TO ME AS A REPUTABLE ANDTRUSTWORTHY PERSON THAT I CAN DO BUSINESS WITH AND BYTHERE COMMENDATION, I MUST NOT HESITATE TO CONFIDE INYOU FOR THIS SIMPLE AND SINCERE BUSINESS.I AM BENDU THE ONLY SON OF LATE MR. AND MRS.KERRY KONOWA. MY FATHER WAS A VERY WEALTHY COCOAMERCHANT IN ABIDJAN , THE ECONOMIC CAPITAL OF IVORYCOAST .MY FATHER WAS POISONED TO DEARTH BY HISBUSINESS ASSOCIATES ON ONE OF THEIR OUTINGS ON ABUSINESS TRIP.MY MOTHER DIED WHEN I WAS A BABY ANDSINCE THEN MY FATHER TOOK ME SO SPECIAL.BEFORE THEDEATH OF MY FATHER ON MARCH 2002 IN A PRIVATE HOSPITALIN ABIDJAN HE SECRETLY CALLED ME ON HIS BEDSIDE ANDTOLD ME THAT HE HAS THE SUM OF SIXTY FIVE MILLION,FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATE DOLLARS($65,500,000.00). LEFT IN FIXED/SUSPENSE ACCOUNT IN ONEOF THE PRIME BANK IN GHANA WEST AFRICA, THAT HE USEDMY NAME AS HIS ONLY SON FOR THE NEXT OF KIN INDEPOSITING OF THE FUND.HE ALSO EXPLAINED TO ME THAT ITWAS BECAUSE OF THIS WEALTH THAT HE WAS POISONED BY HISBUSINESS ASSOCIATES. THAT I SHOULD SEEK FOR A FOREIGNPARTNER IN A COUNTRY OF MY CHOICE WHERE I WILLTRANSFER THIS MONEY AND USE IT FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSESUCH AS REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT OR HOTEL MANAGEMENT.PLEASE, I AM HONORABLY SEEKING YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THEFOLLOWING WAYS(1) TO PROVIDE A BANK ACCOUNT INTO WHICH THIS MONEYWOULD BE TRANSFERRED TO.(2) TO SERVE AS A GUARDIAN OF THIS FUND SINCE I AM ONLY25YEARS STAYING IN A REFUGEE CAMP IN GHANA .(3) TO MAKE ARRANGEMENT FOR ME TO COME OVER TO YOURCOUNTRY TO FURTHER MY EDUCATION AND TO SECURE ARESIDENT PERMIT IN YOUR COUNTRY.MOREOVER,PLEASE, I AMWILLING TO OFFER YOU 15% OF THE TOTAL SUM ASCOMPENSATION FOR YOU EFFORT/ INPUT AFTER THESUCCESSFUL TRANSFER OF THIS FUND INTO YOUR NOMINATEACCOUNT IN OVERSEAS.FURTHERMORE, YOU INDICATE YOUR OPTIONS TOWARDSASSISTING ME AS I BELIEVE THAT THIS TRANSACTION WOULDBE CONCLUDED WITHIN SHORT PERIOD OF TIME,YOU SIGNIFYINTEREST TO ASSIST ME.PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU WRITE ME TODAY,REPLY TO EMAIL: bendukonowa_ak1@yahoo.comANTICIPATING TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON.THANKS AND GOD BLESS.BEST REGARDS,BENDU KONOWA
_________________________________________________________________
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