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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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Fraud email example:

From: "Peter Quino" <peter_quino1@msn.com>
Reply-To: peter_quino7777@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 06 Dec 2005 12:54:55 +0000
Subject: GOOD DAY

DEAR SIR,

IT IS WITH TRUST AND CONFIDENCE THAT MAKE THIS URGENT AND IMPORTANT BUSINESS
PROPOSAL TO YOU. I AM THE CHAIRMAN,CONTRACT AWARD PAYMENT COMMITTE WITH THE
LOME TOGO MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (LMA) HERE IN TOGO. I HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED
BY MY COLLEAGUE TO SEEK FOR A FOREIGN PARTNER IN THE TRANSFER OF THE SUM OF
US$7,000,000.00 (SEVEN MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY). THIS MONEYAROSE
FROM A DELIBERATE OVER-INVOICING OF A PARTICULAR CONTRACT AWARDED BY MY
MINISTRY IN THE YEAR 2000.

WE HAVE BEEN SAFEGUARDING THIS MONEY SINCE THEN, AWAITING AN APPROPRIATE
TIME WHEN THE MONEY CAN BE TRANSFERRED INTO A SAFE FOREIGN ACCOUNT FOR SAFE
KEEPING, PENDING OUR ARRIVAL FOR THE SHARING AND UTILIZATION WITH THE OWNER
OF THE ACCOUNT. NOW, THE PRESIDENCY HAS ORDERED THAT ALL DEBT OWED FOREIGN
CONTRACTORS BY THE MINISTRY
SHOULD BE PAID IMMEDIATELY ON THE STRENGTH OF THIS ORDER, WE WISH TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF IT TO PRESENT YOU AS ONE OF THE BENEFICIARY BEING OWED BY THE
MINISTRIES.

MEANWHILE, WE HAVE AGREED THAT THE MONEY WILL BE SHARED THUS: 60% WILL BE
FOR US(MY COLLEAGUESAND I) 30% WILL BE FOR YOU FOR PROVIDING THE NECESSARY
ASSITANCE, WHILE THE REMAINING 10% HAS BEEN MAPPED OUT
FOR INCIDENTAL EXPENSES THAT MIGHT BE INCURRED THROUGHOUT THE TRANSACTION AS
ALL ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN CONCLUDED FOR A SUCCESSFUL AND HITCH-FREE
TRANSACTION. NOTE THAT THIS MONEY IS STILL IN SUSPENSE ACCOUNT OF MY
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE WITH THE CENTRAL BANK OF TOGO (BTCI).

WE HAVE TAKEN MEASURES TO ENSURE THAT THERE NO RISK INVOLVED ON BOTH
PARTIES. WE HAVE ESTIMATED THAT THIS TRANSACTION WILL BE CONCLUDED WITHIN 14
WORKING DAYS ON RECEIPT OF YOUR ACCEPTANCE LETTER TO THIS PROPOSAL.

PLEASE REACH ME THROUGH THIS EMAIL ADDRESS:- peter_quino7777@yahoo.com
SIGNIFYING YOUR INTEREST IN THIS BUSINESS. THIS IMFORMATION IS HIGHLY
CONFIDENTIAL AND URGENT. FURTHER INFORMATION WILL BE CONVEYED TO YOU AS SOON
AS I RECEIVE YOUR ACCEPTANCE LETTER.

BEST REGARD.

DR PETER QUINO.


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