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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: bello william <bellowilliam03@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 15 May 2014 08:46:42 +0100
Subject: From: MR.BELLO WILLIAM

Cotonou, Republique du Benin

I am MR.BELLO WILLIAM working with Benin Republic as the senior
supervisor in accounting / auditing department of our bank. I have
decided to contact you through this medium based on a business
proposal, which will be of mutual benefit to both of us. I know this
might sound like scam to you because of a lot of activities going onin
the internet today. But I assure you that this is real.

I was the account officer to one of our late customer, a citizen of
your country, who used to work with an oil servicing company here in
Republique du Benin, the late customer made a numbered time
(fixed)deposited for 6years, valued at us 18.6 million (eighteen
million six hundred thousand euro) in my branch. Upon maturity, we
sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no
reply.

After a month, we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his
contract employers, Benin Oil Corporation that the customer died in an
automobile accident. On further investigation, I found out that he
didnot leave a will and all attempts to trace his next of kin were
fruitless. I therefore made further investigation and discovered that
the late customer did not declare any next of kin in all his official
documents, including his bank deposit paperwork.

This sum of (18.6 million Euro) is still sitting in the bank and the
interest is rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each
year. No one will come forward to claim it. According to the
Republique du Benin law, at the expiration of 6(six)years, the money
will revert to the ownership of the Benin government if nobody applies
to claim the funds. By the end of this month the account will be
confiscated if no come to claim the fund.

Please observe utmost confidentiality, and rest assured that this
transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall
require your assistance to my share for investment in your country. In
your return mail, please do forward me your following information if
you are willing to complete this deal with me, to enable me put the
total fund in your name for claim as the next of kin to the deceased
person:

Your full name:
Your contact address:
Your phone number:
Your age:
Profession:
Private email account
Tel: +229-968842298


Awaiting your urgent reply.bellowilliam29@yahoo.in
Regards;

MR.BELLO WILLIAM

Anti-fraud resources: