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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: "Mr.Michael Akpan" <mick_akpan@spymac.com> (may be fake)
Date: Thu, 3 Mar 2005 13:05:06 +0100
Subject: PERSONAL (BUSINESS DEAL)

Dear Sir,

I write to seek your cooperation as a foreign partner
and your assistance to enable us to own properties and
invest in the stable economy of your country. Do
accept my apology if this mail does not suit your
personal or business ethics.

I am Mr. Michael Akpan a senior civil servant with
Nigerian civil service. I am making this proposal to
you in strict confidence on behalf of myself and my
partners. As senior civil servants of the Nigerian
Government Nigerian civil service laws (Code of
Conduct Bureau) forbids us to own a foreign accounts
and we have in our possession an overdue payment bill
totalling eighteen million, five hundred thousand
United States Dollars (US$18,500,000.00) which we want
to transfer abroad with the assistance and
co-operation of a company/or an individual to receive
the said funds, via a reliable Bank Account on our
behalf.

If this proposal satisfy you, do indicate your
interest by writing to me via email or giving me a call
on my confidential telephone number 234 803 8850093 to
enable me educate you more on the modalities of this
transaction. For your assistance, you shall receive
30% of the entire sum, amounting to US$5.55 million of
the US$18.5Million, while 60% of the total sum,
amounting to US$11.1 million will be for me and my
partners and 10% amounting to US$1.85Million will be
used to defray all expenses incurred in the course of
transferring these funds to your account, such as
taxation and other miscellaneous.

Do note that all modalities have been perfected to
ensure a hitch free transfer of these funds and on
receipt of your sincere desire to assist us, we will
swing into full action and we hope to complete the
transfer of the funds within 14 working days with your
assistance and total commitment.

Please treat as very urgent.

Regards,

Michael Akpan.


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