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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: "office mail" <myoffice02@msn.com>
Reply-To: philip_eto@hotmail.com
Date: Thu, 20 Oct 2005 18:07:52 +0000
Subject: INVESTNMENT PLAN

Dear Sir,
It is my great pleasure to write to you and present my business proposal for your consideration and possible acceptance which you will find mutually beneficial to both parties.  As an introduction, I am the Chief Engineer of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) the Chairman of my corporations contracts tender and awards board.  I am happily married with five children, three boys and two girls and I have been in employment for the past 25 years during which time I rose to the official rank of Chief Engineer.  I would like to request through this medium for your possible co-operation and to secure an opportunity to invest and do joint business with you in your country. I have a substantial capital I earnestly intend to invest in your country in any lucrative venture of which you are to advise and assist execute the said venture over there for the mutual benefits of both of us.  My long-term idea is for you to become my business partner in your country and generate ideas on how money will be invested managed and the type of investments after the money is transferred to your custody with your assistance. You will present to me the best possible business opportunities that are secured and would guarantee good returns on investment.  I am searching for a reliable, trustworthy and experienced partner for possible co-operation in development of business and investments in your country and beyond.  My ideas and thoughts are centered on core areas of investments particularly:
1. Real Estate business, that is purchase, construction and subsequent sale of modern houses (residential and offices) and hotels in good locations.
2. Tourist business development
3. Mining, oil & gas (energy)
4. Manufacture of organic fertilizers and related agricultural chemicals.
5. Capital market that is trading in viable company shares / stocks
6. Information technology and communication.
I would therefore appreciate further information on your company, that is what your company does, what you propose to do with my funds bearing in mind my enumerated areas of interest and I shall appreciate your comments and thoughts about the investment opportunities in your company, country and beyond.  The investment fund is in the sum of US$5.5m and this represents cumulative commissions I earned with my two colleagues in 1998 during our tenure as executive members of the contracts tender and awards board.  The funds due to successive military dictatorial government regimes harsh foreign transfer policies could not be remitted outside Nigeria, but the enthronement of democracy recently in Nigeria and the return to elected civilian government created a good opportunity to move the funds out to a trusted person/company capable of generating sound investment advice.  A memorandum of
understanding will be drawn up between parties clearly defining the benefit ratio as we progress in this project.
You will act as a conduit for the transfer of the US$5.5m, setup appropriate entities necessary for
management of the said funds and advise as to the best investments to ensure maximum returns.
For us to proceed with the transaction, you are to send to me the following information to enable me put up application for claims of the funds before the relevant government departments.
(1) Your full name and address
(2) Your company name and address
(3) Your mobile, telephone and fax numbers
Upon receipt of the above data, I shall process and obtain all the relevant funds transfer approvals within 10 days and the approved funds will be transferred to your designated account. I will then come over to meet you for the take off of the investment project.  I am not a business man so I shall rely so much on you to realize my investment plans. I shall be glad to reserve this respect and opportunity for you, if you so desire, but do urge you to give the matter your immediate attention it deserves.
Please upon receipt of this business proposal kindly reply
to my email address.
Yours faithfully,
Engr. Philip Eto  

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