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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: "Mr.Fabrice Dosomu" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <dosomu1965@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 10 Oct 2009 09:22:41 +0200
Subject: PLEASE GET BACK TO ME!!

My Dear Friend,

I am Mr.Fabrice Dosomu,The Auditor in charge of Foreign Remmitance Department of Hallmark Bank Benin in the Commercial city of Cotonou,Benin Republic.

This is a very confidential proposition for you.On July 21st 2003,an Importer of Textiles and Automobiles for the past Thirteen years,Mr.ORLANDO GERLOFF made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit for twelve calendar months,valued at Six million seven hundred thousand United States Dollars (US$6.7musd) in my branch.

Upon maturity on July 20th 2004 as his Credit Officer,I sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply.

After a month,we sent a reminder and finally I discovered from his employees,that Mr. GERLOFF was one of the passengers who died with his entire family in the ill-fated plane crash involving a UTA boeing 727 Chartered Flight that took off from Cotonou Benin Republic and crashed into Atlantic Ocean on thursday 25th december 2003.

Please Visit http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3348109.stm for the crash details
Again,I made further investigation and discovered that Mr.GERLOFF did not declare any next of kin or relations in all his official documents,with my Bank.

According to the International Banking ethics,codes and Laws,at the expiration of six (6) years,the money will revert to the ownership of the Benin Government if nobody applies to claim the fund.

Consequently,my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in as the next of kin to Mr.ORLANDO GERLOFF.

Upon your response,I shall then provide you with more details and relevant informations.

I must not fail to tell you that this transaction is totally risk free and legitimate.

I Awaiting your urgent reply.

Mr.Fabrice Dosomu.

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