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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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Fraud email example:

From: william bello <william_bello@unofree.it>
Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2005 04:29:55 +0100
Subject: Please reply expected.

Please reply expected.

Pls.Reply TO: engr_william_bello@yahoomail.com
Dear sir/madam

First, I must solicit your confidence in this transaction and
IRRESPECTIVE of other mails you may have received, please I urge you

to treat this one with utmost CONFIDENCE.

This is by virtue of its nature CONFIDENTIAL and TOP SECRET. Though I
know that the transaction of this magnitude will make any one
apprehensive and worried, but I am assuring you that all will be well
at the end of the day. We have decided to contact you due to

theurgency of this transaction, as we have been reliably informed of

your discreteness and ability in transaction of this nature.

Let me start by first introducing myself properly to you, I am ENGR
William Bello, a director with the Nigerian National Petroleum
Corporation (NNPC) Eleme Refinery. I came to know of you in my private
search for a reliable and reputable person to handle the confidential
transaction, which involves the transfer of a huge sum of money to a
foreign account requiring maximum confidence.

THE PROPOSITION:

A foreigner, Engineer James Akmed, an Oil Merchant/Contractor with the Federal Government of Nigeria, until his suspension three years ago, executed with us at Eleme Refinery of NNPC, and had a total contract executed worth US$28.6 (Twenty Eight Million,Six Hundred Thousand United States Dollar) which flows in the Corporation's suspense account.

It is because of the allegation/petition leveled against him that he
(Engr. James Akmed) who is a close friend to the late dictatorGeneral
Sanni Abacha (former Military President of Nigeria) who died in office
in 1998 and during his tenure the country experienced various
mismanagement and series of malpractices were carried out in
collaboration with his foreign friends.

However, a Panel was set up to investigate the issue, who found him
(Engr. James Akmed) guilty and the present Democratic President of
Nigeria Chief Olusegun Obasanjo suspended him from transacting any
business in Nigeria with immediate effect and was asked to leave the
country. However, these made the contract fund "UNCLAIMABLE" which was
only known to my colleagues and I.

Fortunately, all the Contract document including the "CONTRACT
COMPLETION CERTIFICATE" are with me but the need for a very

trustworthyforeign business man/woman whom I would present as the

Foreign contractor/beneficiary to claim the fund.
In order to achieve this development, some of my colleagues and I now
seek your permission to have you stand as the FOREIGN CONTRACTOR so
that the funds would be released and paid into your account as
thebeneficiary who executed the contract in the year 1997.

All documents to enable you get this fund transfered to your

nominated account will be carefully worked out.
More so, we are assuring you of a 100% risk free involvement. Your
share stays while the rest would be for me and my colleagues for
investment purposes in your country.
We have agree that, the funds be shared thus, after it has been
transferred into your nominated account:

(1) 15% of the money will go to you for acting as the beneficiary of
the fund.
(2.) 5% will be set aside for reimbursement to both parties for any
incidental expenses that may be incurred in the cause of the transfer.
(3).80% to us the originator of the transaction.

If this proposal is acceptable by you or Company, kindly get to me
immediately on my E-mail Address as stated above.
Please furnish me with your most confidential Telephone and Fax
Number(s), Company Name to use.I assure you that if you will follow my
instruction, the fund shall be in your account within 7-10 days of

this transaction.

Thanking you for your kind understanding in this regard.

My best regards,

ENGR. William Bello (MNSE,MON)





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