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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: "gkoffi11@cantv.net" <gkoffi11@cantv.net>
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 06:56:04 -0430
Subject: From Mrs Grace Koffi...

From Mrs Grace Koffi...
 
FROM THE DESK OF BILL AND EXCHANGE MANAGER,
FOREIGN REMMITTANCE DEPT.
BANQUE INTERNATIONALE DU AFRIQUE
COTONOU , REPUBLIQUE DE BENIN.
 
Dear friend,
 
With due respect, I write to you this proposal.I am the manager of bill and exchange Audicting department at the foreign remittance department of Banque Internationale du La Afrique, Cotonou . I am writing following the impressive information i got about you through my search for a legitimate foriegner i will do this transaction with. which assured me of your capability and reliability to champion this businees opportunity.
 
In my department, I discovered an abandoned sum of U.S$45.5m USdollars (FOURTY FIVE Million, Five Hundred thousand US dollars) . In an account that belongs to one of our foreign customer  (Late Mr.Timothy Mackay) A New Zealand Citizen who unfortunately lost his life In Jakata Indoneasia Resently, He was the President director of Holcim Indonesia cement company. 
 
Since I got information about his death, The Bank have been expecting his next of kin to come forward and claim his money because The Bank  cannot release it unless somebody applies for it as next of kin or relation to the deceased as indicated in our banking guidelines and policies but unfortunately I  learnt that Non of his relation knows about thjis deposite with our bank here.
 
It is therefore upon this discovery that I  now decided to make this businness proposal to you and release the money to you as the next of kin or relation to the deceased for safety and subsequent disbursement since nobody is coming forth and I dont want this money to go into the Bank treasury as unclaimed Bill.
 
According to our Banking policies and guideline here which  stipulates that if such money remained unclaimed after Three years, the money will automatically be transfered into the Bank treasury as  unclaimed fund.
 
The request of foreigner as next of kin in this business is occasioned by the fact that the customer was a foreigner and a Local Person Here  cannot stand as next of kin to a foreigner.
 
I agree that 40 % of this money will be for you as foreign  partner, in respect to the provision of a foreign account, 10 % will be for reimbursement of any expenses incured during the curse of  the transaction and 50% would be for me.
 
There after I will visit your country for disbursement according to the percentages indicated.
 
Therefore to enable the immediate transfer of this fund to  you as arranged, you must apply first to the bank as relation or  next of kin of the deceased indicating your bank name, your bank account number, your private telephone and fax number for easier and effective communication and location where the money will be remitted .
 
Upon receipt of your reply, I will send to you by fax or  email the text of the application. I will not fail to bring to your notice  that this transaction is hitch free and that you should not entertain  any atom of fear as all required arrangements have been made for the  transfer .
 
You should contact me immediately as soon as you receive this letter To my private email contact at/   gkoffi11@terra.com
 
Trusting to hear from you immediately.
 
Yours faithfully,
Mrs Grace Koffi. 
AUDICTING DEPARTMENT.
BANQUE INTERNATIONALE DU LA AFRIQUI BENIN.

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