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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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: engrjdouglas@tiscali.co.uk
Date: Mon, 11 Apr 2005 03:47:05 -0700
Subject: PLEASE TREAT AS URGENT AND CONFIDENTIAL.


HELLO DEAR,

MY NAME IS JOE M. DOUGLAS, I AM A DIRECTOR IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT IN THE
NIGERIA NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION (NNPC). I KNOW MY MAIL WILL COME TO
YOU AS A SURPRISE AND ALSO EMBARRASING, BUT I BEG FOR YOUR SINCERE UNDERSTANDING.

I WANT YOU TO HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING WITH ME AND HANDLE THIS URGENT BUSINESS
PROPOSAL WITH ATMOST SERIOUSNESS AND CAREFULNESS FOR OUR MUTUAL BENEFIT.

THIS BUSINESS INVOLVES US$11MILLION (ELEVEN MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS)
WHICH I WANT US TO SECURE IN YOUR PERSONAL OR COMPANY ACCOUNT BY TRANSFERRING
IT FROM THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN)TO YOUR ACCOUNT.THIS US$11MILLION
IS AN OVER-INVOICE OF A CONTRACT EXECUTED IN MY CORPORATION IN 2001. THE
ORIGINAL FOREIGN CONTRACTOR WHO EXECUTED THIS CONTRACT HAS BEEN PAID HIS
REAL PAYMENT WHAT IS LEFT NOW IS THIS EXCESS US$11MILLION. I WANT TO ENCOURAGE
YOU NOT TO BE AFRAID, WITH YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND DILIGENCE.

WE SHALL SECURE THE MONEY WITHOUT ANY TRACE IN LESS THAN 21 WORKING DAYS.EVERYTHING
ABOUT THE CONTRACT IS WELL KNOWN TO ME.WHAT IS NEEDED FROM YOU NOW ARE THE
FOLLOWING:YOUR NAME AND COMPANY NAME (IF ANY), YOUR PRIVATE PHONE, FAX AND
EMAIL ADDRESS AND THE PARTICULARS OF THE BANK ACCOUNT WHERE YOU WANT THE
MONEY TO BE TRANSFERRED.

ON THE CONCLUSSION OF THIS BUSINESS I WILL VISIT YOUR COUNTRY AND THE MONEY
WILL BE SHARED AS FOLLOWS: 25% FOR YOU, 70% FOR ME AND THE REMAINING 5% WILL
BE USED TO PAY BACK ANY EXPENCES THAT MAY BE INCURED ON THE PROCESS LIKE
PHONE BILL.

ONCE MORE I WANT TO ASSURE YOU THAT THIS BUSINESS IS RISK FREE, YOU SHOULD
NOT FEAR FOR I HAVE EVERY DATA ABOUT THIS MONEY BUT YOU MUST KEEP EVERYTHING
CONFIDENTIAL.

I AM EXPECTING YOUR IMMEDIATE REPLY.
THANKS.

ENGR. JOE M. DOUGLAS

___________________________________________________________

Book yourself something to look forward to in 2005.
Cheap flights - http://www.tiscali.co.uk/travel/flights/
Bargain holidays - http://www.tiscali.co.uk/travel/holidays/



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