joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
 Free trial for 30 days
   jwSpamSpy
Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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: "Mr , GEORGE IBRU ." <george_ibru2000@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: melvin_thambo2000@yahoo.com
Date: Sun, 5 Dec 2004 19:42:19 +0400
Subject: URGENT BUSINESS PROPOSAL .

ATTN: PRESIDENT (CEO)
DEAR SIR,
I GUESS THIS LETTER MAY COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE SINCE I HAD NO PREVIOUS CORRESPONDENCE WITH YOU.
I AM THE CHAIRMAN TENDER BOARD OF INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION(INEC) I GOT YOUR CONTACT ON THE COURSE OF MY SEARCH FOR A RELIABLE PERSON WITH WHOM TO HANDLE SUCH A CONFIDENTIAL TRANSACTION INVOLVING THE TRANSFER OF MONEY VALUED AT THIRTY MILLION TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS(US$30.2) TO A SAFE FOREIGN ACCOUNT.
THE ABOVE FUND IN QUESTION IS NOT CONNECTED WITH ARMS, DRUGS OR MONEY LAUNDERING IT IS THE PRODUCT OF AN OVER INVOICE ON CONTRACT AWARD IN 1999 BY INEC TO A FOREIGN COMPANY FOR THE SUPPLY OF ELECTORAL MATERIALS THAT WAS USED FOR CONDUCTING 1999 ELECTION.
THE CONTRACT HAS LONG BEEN EXECUTED AND PAYMENT OF THE ACTUAL CONTRACT AMOUNT MADE TO THE FOREIGN CONTRACTOR LEAVING THE BALANCE OF US$30.2 IN A DORMANT ACCOUNT, WHICH MY COLLEAGUES AND I NOW WANT TO TRANSFER OUT OF [SOUTH AFRICA ]INTO A RELIABLE FOREIGN ACCOUNT FOR OUR PERSONAL USE.
AS CIVIL SERVANTS WE DO NOT HAVE THE NECESSARY FOREIGN ACCOUNT MACHINERY TO SUCCESSFULLY HANDLE THIS TRANSFER THEREFORE IT BECOMES NECESSARY TO SOURCE FOR A FOREIGN COMPANY OR AN INDIVIDUAL WITH THE CAPABILITY TO ACT AS THE ORIGINAL BENEFICIARY OR THE CONTRACTOR.
MY DEAR, IT IS A GOOD THING THE PRESIDENT HAS ENDORSED THE RESOLUTION PASSED BY THE SENATE THAT ALL FOREIGN CONTRACTORS OWNED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF SOUTH AFRICA SHOULD BE PAID. WE WILL SEIZE THIS GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO PURPORT YOU AS ONE OF THE BENEFICIARIES TO BE PAID.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THIS PROPOSAL KINDLY GET BACK TO ME BY SENDING ME YOUR LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE ALONG WITH YOUR DIRECT TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS, BUT IF YOU CAN NOT FOR ANY REASON HANDLE THIS TRANSACTION, I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL, IF YOU CAN INTRODUCE IT TO A RELIABLE AND TRUST WORTHY PERSON IN WHICH IN ANY CASE YOUR INTEREST WILL BE PROPERLY TAKEN CARE OF.
MEANWHILE, MY COLLEAGUES AND I HAVE DECIDED TO SHARE THE MONEY IN THE FOLLOWING RATIO 70% FOR MY COLLEAGUES AND I, 20% FOR YOU THE ACCOUNT OWNER AND 10% FOR ALL THE LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL EXPENSES THAT MAY ARISE IN THE COURSE OF THIS TRANSACTION.
FURTHER DETAILS ABOUT THIS TRANSACTION WILL BE DISCUSSED IN THE SUBSEQUENT CORRESPONDENCE.
THIS TRANSACTION IS STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL BUT 100% RISK FREE. NOTE ALSO THAT THE PARTICULAR NATURE OF YOUR BUSINESS IS IRRELEVANT TO THIS TRANSACTION AND THIS TRANSACTION IS EXPECTED TO BE CONCLUDED WITHIN 14 WORKING DAYS SINCE ALL LOCAL CONTACTS AND ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN PROPERLY PERFECTED FOR A SMOOTH AND SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION TO THIS TRANSACTION.
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
GEORGE .IBRU ..



Anti-fraud resources: