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.

 

 

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

Fraud email example:

From: Jacob Safeku <safeku.jacob@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: jbsafeku7@ciudad.com.ar
Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 05:38:53 -0500
Subject: Partnership



My Dear,
I expect this mail to meet you and your family in good health. I am
Mr. Jacob Safeku, area manager of a branch in one of the leading Banks here in
Cotonou-Benin. It is my pleasure to seek for your assistance in this
confidential business transaction, which will be for our mutual benefit.


Few years ago, an expatriate consultant and contractor Engineer, a customer of
our Bank made a numbered time deposit for twelve calendar months valued at 9.6
Nine Million Six Hundred U.S. Dollars in my branch. On maturity, I sent a
routine notification to his forwarded address but got no reply. After months,
we sent a reminder and finally, we discovered from his then contract employee
according to record (a cement company here in Benin ) that he died on the
Republic of Benin plane crash on the day of 26th December 2003. This also took
lives of thousands of Lebanese.


Presently, as ethical and corresponding to all national and international
banking procedure worldwide, my bank must respond to his next of kin. On my
private further investigation as his account officer, I found out that He died
alongside with His suppose next of kin. And until now no other person/persons
knows about this account or could give any documentary evidence
concerning this
account.


The total sum of 9.6 million is still standing in his favour in my bank head
office as dormant account. No one has ever come forward to claim it. And now,
according to the Republic of Benin banking law/code, after six years,
the money
will revert to the ownership of the Beninoise government if the account owner
is certified dead and nobody comes forward to claim it. Now I need
your support
and your full cooperation, so that you and I will have this fund. To transfer
it out of my bank to any special account of your or our choice.


All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us seeing this deal
through.
I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement
that will
protect you from any breach of the law, and payment will be made to
you in less
than 7 banking days.


At the conclusion of this business, we will have the money shared in the ratio
of 75 - 25 of the total amount. 75 will be for me and 25 for you. Please you
have to be rest assured that as far as I am concerned in this
transaction as an
insider of the bank, this business is extremely sure and safe, because I have
already done my home work very well and I have covered every loop holes and
also set my machinery on work before contacting you.


On your reply, please reply to my confidential email address (
jsafeku7@ciudad.com.ar ), include you full names, phone and address. I highly
appreciated your quick answer.


Yours faithfully,
Jacob Safeku.


Anti-fraud resources: