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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: "Mr. Carlos Juan" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ccarjuan@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 29 Jun 2010 07:56:04 +0100
Subject: Burren Energy Services..

I am Mr. Juan C. Carlos and I am an Engineer who is currently working with Burren Energy Services, U.K (www.burren.co.uk). Our soon to be commissioned branch office is situated in Spain where i am now, overseeing its final completion. However, we have been partners with Bentec Oil and Drilling company (www.bentec.de) that is situated in Germany for the past 10 years and i have now decided to cut across to you to explain an intelligent business proposal that i intend to secure outside London. My contact to you this moment, is simply to seek your mutual friendship that i am sure will expand our horizons towards a healthy business relationship. The amount of the fund in question that i plan to invest is in the tune 0f $38 million USD and before any details can be divulged, i would like to determine your assistance and confidentiality. By this, i simply mean that I would like to receive a detailed response from you before you can expect me to begin the process that will ensure !
you receive the funds on my behalf

Please Note: This fund came as a result of a multi-national project that we helped Bentec Oil and Drilling company to execute with us as chief contractor some years ago and because of our interest, the contract was over-invoiced. However, after the contract, all companies involved received their actual contract sum and went back to their country leaving behind this over-inflated sum for me and my colleagues to claim. Now the time has come for me to process and move the fund out for business, but I can not do it on my own since I am still working with Burren Energy Services. The reason why I am soliciting for your help is to explain to you on how important it is that I use you or your company to process the release of the fund, while backing you up with legal documents that will position you as the receiver of a bonafide payment for an executed contract.

At this juncture, a detailed summary of yourself and your company would be very much appreciated. Do also let me know if you will be able to receive the money on my behalf to invest in your company or in any profitable business in your country without primarily exposing me. As soon as you show me that you understand the proposition in front of you, then i believe we will be able to commence with the process of transferring the funds either through diplomatic means or otherwise. All you need to send immediately, is your FULL NAMES or COMPANY NAME and your TELEPHONE/FAX NUMBERS. Your share for your assistance will be 35%, while I and my colleagues will take 60% and the subsequent 5% will take care of any expenses that will be incurred during the course of transfer. Please write back only if you know you will be capable to execute this project with me. Looking forward to your cooperation.

Regards
J. C. Carlos

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