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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: Kenji Nakazawa <kenjinakazawa1977@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Sun, 1 Jun 2008 22:16:07 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: From Okinawa, Japan, with cash!


Attention please,


I am a dealer in Electric submersible Pumps, which I import from China .
In October 2007, I received 2 containers from my shipper/freight Forwarder, and one of the containers contained 3 boxes, which obviously did not contain pumps. I took them out and broke open the lock of one box and was surprised to discover that it was packed full with US$100 Bills! I broke the second and the third and they both contained US$100 bills. The 3 boxes were stacked full with US$100 Dollar Notes! My guess would be about 30 million or even more! I invited my Shipper, who has become a close friend after many years. I showed him what I found and demanded for an explanation. He was shocked, but recovered to explain that an error must have occurred at the loading dock (during inspection) in Taiwan , where the Loading of my pumps was done.

We both strongly suspected that they were fakes, and I took 5 Notes (US$500) and went to my Bank for checking. To my surprise, my Banker said they were genuine US money! I also went to another bank to crosscheck, and the money was confirmed as genuine. We decided to wait to see if any one would come for the money...

Several months have now passed and no one has come forward to claim the boxes. This is finder’s keepers. I am not obliged by Japanese law to report the money, and I might even enter into real trouble if I do report this find. I have therefore decided to seek for outside help. I need an honest person who can receive the 3 boxes and deposit all the money into a Bank account for our joint investment project.

Shipping the 3 boxes to your address will not be a problem, and the 3 boxes will not be searched by Customs. This is because I have finalized an arrangement with the Pilot working for the Red Cross International. According to him, Red Cross Flights bearing relief materials are NEVER searched by Customs!
Because I have no documents covering this money, I cannot spend this money in Japan . Even trying to deposit US$500 into my Bank account will invite an investigation. The Japanese currency is the Yen, and any other currency, especially the US Dollar is closely monitored. This is why I need your assistance to take this money out of Japan and put in a Bank...

The money is in excess of US$30 million and we can share it 50/50 (US$15 million plus each of us) or enter into a joint venture business in your Country. From my share, I will take care of my Shipper/Agent.

If you reply, I will give you my phone and fax numbers for a much more secure communication.

Thank you!

Kenji Nakazawa
Okinawa , Japan


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