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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: Mr Bernard Otti <mrbernardotti4@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 6 May 2015 12:12:30 +0100
Subject: I need your corporation

My dear

I need your corporation in June 2010, our customer a foreign contractor did
a contract project here at the Nigeria National Petroleum corporation. as
the person in charge of finance and accounts here I encouraged him to
consider various growth of funds with prime ratings.Then he invested
Nineteen Million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars only. Based on
my advice, we were able to spin the initial deposit with profit and
interest to 22.5 million U.S Dollars.

After few months; my company (NNPC) sent several notice to him without
response and unfortunately, my client died in a car crash along with his
nuclear family at Abuja Express Way while on sabbatical in the summer of
2010, may their soul rest in peace. He died without leaving a Will and
several efforts were made to find his extended family through his embassy
without success. Because of the sensitive nature of private banking, most
customers don"t nominate next of kin in their
project, also usually in most cases leave their WILLS in our care, in this
case; our now deceased client died in-testate.

It is quite clear now that our dear client died with no known or
identifiable family member. According to practice, the Private banking
sector will by the end of next month broadcast a request for statement of
claim to the NNPC, failing to receive viable claims they will probably
revert the deposit to the Management of Falcon Bank. This will result the
money entering the Falcon Bank accounting system and the portfolio will be
out of my hands and out of the private banking division. What bothers me
most is that according to the laws of my country at the expiration of five
{5} years the funds will revert to the ownership of the Nigeria Government
if nobody applies to claim the funds.

Now, I am seeking your consent to present you as the next of kin of the
deceased , since you share the same last name with the deceased so that the
proceeds of this account valued at (22.5million USD) can be paid to you and
then you and I can share the money 60/40 ratio. You will get 40% and I will
be entitled to 60% as the initiator of the deal.All I require is your
honest cooperation to enable us seeing this deal through. I guarantee that
this will be executed under all legitimate arrangement that will protect us
from any breach of the law.

You know that I must have done my home work already before contacting you.
Although the project is capital intensive, I know I will be able to pull it
through following proper banking and legal channels with your assistance at
your end. I will tidy up the legal aspect with the assistance of a lawyer
who will prepare all the documents that will be needed to transfer the
money from Nigeria to your country. Opportunities like this only comes once
in a lifetime. I am a family man and this is an opportunity for me to give
my family the best in life.

I await your response.

Your faithfully
Mr. Benard Otti
Group Executive Director, Finance and Accounts
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)
Tel: +2348060661697
Email: mrbernardotti4@gmail.com

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