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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Alex Dryano" <pml@mail-on.us>
Reply-To: all23invest@yeah.net
Date: Thu, 03 Jul 2014 07:30:52 +0100
Subject: Re: Very Urgent (Get Back To Me)


Hello sir, Good morning and good day to you. I am looking to work with a re=
putable individual/firm to mop up and place funds into viable investment ve=
ntures in your country and perhaps with your assistance, we could avoid hig=
h taxes. I am Alex Dryano a staff/member of the inner circle of Mr. Mikhail=
Khodorkovsky who was imprisoned in Russia on false charges of fraud and ta=
x evasion by the current Russian President Mr. Vladimir V. Putin. For more =
details, please follow this links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikhail_Kho=
dorkovsky http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/20/mikhail-khodorkovsky=
-russia-richest-man Before the arrest of Mr. Mikhail Khodorovsky, we where =
in the process to complete the documentations for the payment of US$500 M f=
or contractor execution under Yukos Oil Company, while working on the issua=
nce of the Approval Documents on the transaction Mr. Mikhail Khodorkovsky w=
as arrested which led to the suspension of this payment. Mr. Khodorkovsky w=
as released from prison on 20th December, 2013, he is reuniting with family=
. Now that Mr. Khodorkovsky is a free man again, it is time to complete the=
US$500 M transaction. For the purpose of confidentiality, the initial fore=
ign company name listed as beneficiary belongs to Mr. Khodorkovsky and with=
current event, this company name cannot be used in other not to put the co=
ntract payment of US$500 M at risk. 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 with your details to secure the payment o=
f US$500 M to you as beneficiary. Upon receipt of your immediate response, =
we shall discuss the compulsory modalities to see this transaction to succe=
ssful conclusion. Note that you will be entitled to 20% 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. If you cannot assist then I will sugges=
t that you introduce anyone you consider trustworthy and capable to work wi=
th me on this confidential transaction. Finally, but most importantly, I be=
seech you not to utter the slightest word about Mr. Khodorovsky to anyone n=
ecessary to keep him safe. I wait your prompt reply. Best Regards, Alexande=
r.

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