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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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: fobi4@handbag.com
Reply-To: filianobi2@tiscali.co.uk
Date: Tue, 26 Oct 2004 13:56:01 +0100
Subject: DEAR SIR,

DR.FILIAN OBI
ACCOUNT DEPARTMENT,(NNPC)
LAGOS- NIGERIA,
TEL: 234-803-561-9649
FAX: 234-1-7590694


DEAR SIR,

IT IS WITH TRUST AND CONFIDENCE THAT I MAKE THIS URGENT AND IMPORTANT BUSINESS
PROPOSAL TO YOU. I AM SENIOR ACCOUNTANT WITH THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM
CORPORATION (NNPC) HERE IN LAGOS. I HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED BY MY COLLEAGUES
TO SEEK A FOREIGN PARTNER IN THE TRANSFER OF THE SUM OF US$7 MILLION (SEVEN
MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS) ONLY. THIS MONEY AROSE FROM A DELIBERATE
OVER ? INVOICING OF A PARTICULAR CONTRACT AWARDED TO FOREIGN CONTRACTORS
IN 2001.

WE HAVE BEEN SAFEGUARDING THIS MONEY SINCE THEN, AWAITNG AN APPROPRIATE
TIME WHEN THE MONEY CAN BE TRANSFERRED INTO A SAFE KEEPING, PENDING OUR
ARRIVAL FOR THE SHARING AND UTILIZATION WITH THE OWNER OF THE ACCOUNT. NOW
THE NEW CIVILIAN GOVERNMENT HAVE ORDERED THAT ALL DEBTS OWED FOREIGN CONTRACTORS
BY THE GOVERNMENT BE PAID IMMEDIATELY, ON THE STRENGTH OF THIS ORDER, WE
WISH TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT TO PRESENT YOU OR YOUR COMPANY AS ONE OF THE
CONTRACTORS BEING OWED BY THE GOVERNMENT. MEANWHILE, WE HAVE AGREED THAT
THE MONEY WILL BE SHARED THUS, 75% WILL BE FOR US( I AND MY COLLEAGUES),20%
WILL BE FOR YOU FOR PROVIDING THE NECESSARY ASSISTANCE WHILE THE REMAINING
5% HAS BEEN MAPPED OUT FOR INCIDENTAL EXPENSES THAT MIGHT BE INCURRED IN
THE COURSE OF THIS TRANSACTION.

NOTE, THAT THE NATURE OF YOUR COMPANY?S BUSINESS IS IRRELEVANT TO THIS 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 CORPORATION
(NNPC) WITH CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA.YOU ARE REQUIRED TO FAX THE FOLLOWING
INFORMATION TO US IMMEDIATELY.

(1) YOUR PHONE AND FAX NUMBERS
(2) NAME AND ADDRESS OF YOUR BANK, PHONE AND FAX NUMBERS
(3) YOUR ACCOUNT NUMBER

WE HAVE TAKEN MEASURES TO ENSURE THAT THERE ARE NO RISKS 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 BY
FAX . PLEASE REACH ME THROUGH THE TEL/FAX NUMBERS ADDRESS ABOVE SIGNIFYING
YOUR INTEREST IN THIS BUSINESS THIS INFORMATION IS HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL AND
URGENT.FURTHER INFORMATION WILL BE CONVEYED TO YOU AS SOON AS I RECEIVE
YOUR ACCEPTANCE RESPONSE.

BEST REGARDS.
DR.FILIAN OBI






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