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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: "Mofe Richard" <richard_jp@virtumail.net>
Reply-To: richard_mofe01@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Wed, 09 Feb 2005 03:45:10 +0100
Subject: Office of the director.

Office of the director.

Attn, Sir/Madam,

I am the chairman of the members of the Contract Payment
Review Panel (CPRP) and executive director of projects
and engineering for the Federal Ministry of Petroleum
Resources in Nigeria (FMPRN), I am in search of an
agent to assist us in receiving the sum of twenty eight
million US dollars, US$28,000,000 remitted by Key Tested
Telegraphic Transfer (K.T.T) to any foreign bank you
will provide and subsequently invest the funds in acquiring
estate and landed properties, or in any other lucrative venture
in your country.You shall take 20% of the total amount for
your assistance.If you are interested to assist me in this regard,
You should please email me for details. Note that your area of
specialization is not relevant for the successful execution of this
transaction.

This project has be modified to last in (1) one week to (2) weeks
of commencement.Please it is hitch and risk-free transaction but
confidentiality is required due to its nature because we are not
allowed to transfer such amount oversea while still in government
office hence need you for assistance and we are promising you
adequate compensation for your support.

I await your reply to this mutually beneficial transaction.

Best wishes,
Mofe Richard.J.P

Anti-fraud resources: