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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: "YUKOS OIL" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <hung207@yahoo.cn>
Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2013 08:04:57 -0800
Subject: INVESTMENT NOTICE

DEAR SIR,
 
I am Mr. Vladimir Kalinin a staff of Mr. Mikhail B. Khodorkovsky the Chairman/CEO of YUKOS OIL CORPORATION (Russian Largest Oil Corporation) with branch offices worldwide.
 
 
Some documents were handed over to me for the payment a foreign contractor with the Yukos Oil Corporation. Already Mr. Mikhail Khodorkovsky had released part payment the total sum of €50 Million euros from the account of Yukos Oil Corp and while I was working on the final Approval Documents for the contract payments Mr. Mikhail Khodorkovsky was arrested. A wide variety of local & foreign politicians, civil activists and journalists considers the process leading to the imprisonment of Mr. Khodorkovsky to be politically motivated.
 
I have decided to move out this funds and I decided to contact a neutral person for this transaction for the purpose of confidentiality. Therefore, I solicit your help so you can stand as the foreign contractor & beneficiary of the said funds after which we can re-profile the Approval documents in your favour.
Upon receipt of your immediate response, we shall discuss the compulsory modalities to see this transaction to successful conclusion. Note that you will be entitled to 15% share of the total funds as your compensation for your assistance. I consequently request your maximum assistance and co-operation to facilitate the release of the funds to you.
In conclusion, I guarantee that this transaction would be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect us from any breach of law. Please keep this transaction confidential and note that this transaction must be concluded within two weeks. i am ready to provide the proof of Fund to you to prove to you that it is a serious transaction and we are looking for serious person to urgently assistance us and the proof of Fund (POF) will be given to you only when i am sure that you are serious to cooperate with us.
 
If you cannot assist then I will suggest that you introduce anyone you consider trustworthy and capable to work with me on this confidential transaction. i wnt to further inform you that it is possible to split the transfer of the fund to your account if your account cannot be able to receive such huge amount of money  and i can assure you that it is 100% investment in your country.
 
I await your prompt reply and provide your mobile so that i can speak to you
Best Regards,
Mr. Vladimir Kalinin
Yukos Oil Corp
Moscow - Russia.

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