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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: Central bank of nigeria <foreigntransferu@sify.com>
Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 04:13:42 -0800
Subject: Clarification needed from you.


*TRANSACTION CODE:INH/DTB/BJ/0357/COT/2012.*
*FILE N°: ACH-CBB/ 75109/0121/12*
*Boulevard de France, BP 325 Cotonou *
*COTONOU-BENIN REPUBLIC WEST AFRICA . *
:
*E-mail:** **foreigntransferu@sify.com*
*Tel: +229 972 501 7 .*
*
*
........................BANK OF AFRICA, IS A PLACE TO MAKE GOOD TRANSFER
AND TO RELY ON`.FANK KOFI FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPT
..........................................**
*
*
*
*
*
*
*ATTN BENEFICIARY* * ,*
* *
*I am **Mr*** *.Frank Kofi**, DIRECTOR FOREIGN OPERATIONS to the BANK OF
AFRICAN. The attached picture was taken in my office where I was serving
verification documents to the White men Mr. Gabriel Evans and Mr. Fsunata
Fredrick who stormed my office in bank of the Black Gentleman (on white
African attire). The black Mr. Fsunata Fredrick claimed to be your
representative and the supervisory Engineer that supervised and certified
your money execution that was shifted from the previous Paying Institute to
the BANK OF AFRICAN, IN WEST AFRICA (OUR BANK) because of their inability
to deliver your fund by the diplomat as agreed.*
* *
*They said that you were dead and before your death, you appointed them as
your representative (US$5 million) presently under our custody these two
white men and the black gentleman quickly applied that your fund should be
presented to them at the spot.*
* *
*The Official responsible for the presentation of consignment quickly
granted approvals to their application and packaged the (US$5million) for
them to go with it. When the BANK OF AFRICAN Debit Note was submitted to
my desk for final Approvals before forwarding it to them for endorsement, I
noticed that there are discrepancies as there was no evidence of
authorization letter from you for the change of beneficiary.*
* *
*I urgently summoned The Official responsible for the presentation of the
(US$5 million) consignment and directed him to stop the movement of the
(US$5 million) and at the same time placed a stop order instruction on the
fund pending when your views and comments are received with regards to this
matter.*
* *
*Please study the attached photograph and email urgently for your comments
which will be highly appreciated, but we will not hesitate to continue the
payment of (US$5million) transmission to them if no response comes from you.
*
* *
*Immediately as your silence will be a clear indication that you authorized
them to effect the above changes.*
* *
*Mr*** *.Frank Kofi
*
* DIRECTOR FOREIGN OPERATIONS*
*BANK OF WEST AFRICAN STATE.*

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