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: "Abraham Bui" <abraham_bui@walterandersononline.com>
Date: Fri, 17 Dec 2004 14:49:02
Subject: REAL OPPORTUNITY

Abraham Bui
Nigeria National Orientation Agency
Federal Ministry of Information
Abuja, Nigeria.
Tel: 234 80 5581 8032

Sir,

It is indeed my pleasure to write you this letter, which I believe will be a surprise to you as
we have neer met before. I actually got your e-mail address while searching the internet for
a reliable person to handle this transaction.

I am Mr Abraham Bui, director, Civic Registration and Finance, Nigerian National
Orientation Agency (NNOA), Federal Ministry of Information, and a close associate of the
immediate past Minister of Internal Affairs, Late Chief Sunday Afolabi

Before his death, he has mandated me to transfer the sum of US$88 millions recovered
from over-invoiced contracts involved in the Nigerian National Identity Card project under
the Ministry of Internal Affairs, into several private offshore accounts in Europe and United
States. A total sum of US$73,700,000.00 has been transferred before the untimelythe
death of Chief Afolabi, leaving the balance of US$14, 300,000.00.

Please do not disregard this mail and for avoidance of doubt you can verify the National
Identity Card project with the Nigerian High Commission in your country or you visit the
Internal Affairs website: http://www.nigeriabusinessinfo.com/id-card180203.htm as posted
by Nigerian business information in 2003 when the Identity Card project started. But do not
disclose my identity or the actual nature of this transaction as I am still a serving officer in
the ministry

I have made proper arrangement/documentation to transfer the balance. I am soliciting that
you help me to receive the fund in trust. I cannot complete this transaction without the
participation of a foreign partner who would provide an offshore account where the funds
could be lodged, as the Federal Legislature does not permit Civil Servants to operate
offshore accounts.

The remittance of the funds requires little documentation that would be completed as soon
as you provide me with a secured bank account that you have absolute control over,
where you may wish to receive the money. There is no risk involved on your part in this
transaction since the Minister and I have covered this transaction with adequate contract
and external credit documents.

What we require from you by telephone and email are viz:

(i) Acceptance of this offer

(ii) Your company name/address, a secured telephone/fax numbers and a bank
account that you have absolute control over where the funds would be lodged.

(iii) Convincing Honesty, Trustworthiness and Willingness to abide by the
requirements of this proposal paramount of which is CONFIDENTIALITY

I have agreed that you will retain 20% of the entire US$14, 300,000.00 for your effort in this
transaction, 80% for us partners here in Nigeria.

Please reply urgently by calling above phone number or email, as I expect that the
transaction will not take more than seven working days.

Best regards.

Abraham Bui















Anti-fraud resources: