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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: "Akinshola George" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <akinsholageorge@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 4 Mar 2011 14:50:22 +0100
Subject: MUTUAL COOPERATION

My Dear friend,
Having gotten your contact details through the Internet, coupled with my deep interest to invest in your country, as an economically and politically stable country, I'm using this forum to contact and solicit your mutual assistance in handling a business deal which I'm hereby introducing to you.
 
I am Mr.  Akinshola George, a Banker in one of the leading Commercial Banks here . One MR M.HANSON and his wife, our esteemed customers, operating a joint account in our bank,. died in a ghastly motor accident while on a business trip on the 24th of August 2002. From records at our disposal, the said couple had no children and any known relative  and  were about 63 and 58years old respectively before their death.
They never identified with anybody as his relative and investigation made could not trace any known relative of the late couple. Before their death, they made a numbered time Fixed Deposit, valued at $16,755,889.00 USD made from contracts they executed with Oil Companies here  and deposited with our Commercial Bank.
Upon maturity, we sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. Few weeks ago, the Bank Management  requested that the next of KIN to the deceased should come up to claim his fund deposited with our Bank. After much effort made to locate any of their relation failed.  Further investigation showed that the couple died in a motor accident and we went to NPC and was issued a  death certificate as a proof of their death. It is in the light of the above, that I decided to contact you, to have you stand in as the couples's next of KIN to claim the fund so that the bank will not declare the account dormant, freeze or confiscate the amount as they stated in the letter sent to my Department. Nobody will ever come forward to claim it, except their next of KIN, in accordance with the Central Bank's banking policy and in conjunction with the Federal Government law  which stipulates that at the expiration of 4 (four) years, the money will reve rt to the ownership of the Nigeri
 
Consequently, I shall present you as the next of kin to Mr.M.HANSON so that you and I can benefit from the fruits of this old man's labor to enhance Humanitarian organization World wide. The money will be shared in the ratio of 70% for me, 25% for you and 5% for any arising contingencies during the process of this transaction.
 
There is no risk involved as I will use my position as the Manager to guarantee the successful execution of this transaction and it will take only 7- working days to actualize. Please you must observe utmost confidentiality.
If you find my request interesting, in reply, please forward  to me your full names, address and telephone number to enable me commence official remittance proceedure with the bank and also discuss with you.
Awaiting your urgent response.
 
Best regards
 
Mr. Akinshola George
Tel: +234-8130774095
 

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