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: "BARRISTER PAUL MARTIN." <barristerpaulm203@yahoo.fr> (may be fake)
Reply-To: barristerpaulm201@yahoo.fr
Date: Tue, 19 Oct 1999 08:58:50 -0700
Subject: URGENT RESPONSE NEEDED FROM YOU/FROM BARRISTER PAUL MARTIN


Dear Sir/Madam

I HUMBLY WISH TO SEEK YOUR ASSISTANCE IN A MATTER THAT IS VERY
IMPORTANT
AND NEEDS UTMOST TRUST AND CONFIDENCE.I AM BARRISTER PAUL MARTIN, A
BUSINESS CONSULTANT AND CLOSE CONFIDENT OF ONE OF NIGERIA'S MOST
POWERFUL FAMILY.THE WIFE OF TOP GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL WHO SERVED IN THE
PAST MILITARY REGIME IN NIGERIA WISHES TO MOVE OUT OF NIGERIA THE SUM
OF
US$30MILLION.
SHE WISHES TO INVEST THE AFOREMENTIONED SUM IN VIABLE INVESTMENT
OVERSEAS. FOR OVIOUS REASONS, MY CLIENT DOES NOT WISH TO PLACE THIS
FUND
WITH ESTABLISHED FINANCIAL INSTITUTION IN THEIR FAMILY'S NAME FOR
SECURITY REASON. IT IS HER DESIRE THAT THE DEAL BE HANDLED AS QUIETLY
AS POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF ANY LEAKAGE TO THE PUBLIC OR
GOVERNMENT.SHE HAS THEREFORE EMPOWERED AND INSTRUCTED ME TO LOOK FOR A
RELIABLE FOREIGNER WHO CAN ARRANGE AND RECEIVE THE MONEY IN HIS ACCOUNT
OVERSEAS AND ASSIST TO INVEST THE FUND PROPERLY FOR THE FAMILY.
IF YOU AGREE TO ACT AS FUND MANAGER FOR MY CLIENT AND HER FAMILY, I
SHALL RELEASE THE SUM OF US$30MILLION TO YOU IF YOU MEET MY
REQUIREMENTS. THE MONEY IS AVALIABLE IN CASH IN A SAFE TRUNK AND UPON
A
FAVOURABLE RESPONSE FROM YOU, I SHALL LET YOU KNOW HOW YOU WILL RECEIVE
IT.
YOUR COMMISSION SHALL BE DOWN PAYMENT OF 15% OF THE TOTAL SUM, AND
ANNUAL 10% OF THE AFTER TAX RETURNS ON INVESTMENT FOR THE FIRST FIVE
YEARS. THEREFORE, THE TERMS SHALL BE VARIED.
SIR, IF YOU ARE CAPABLE AND WILLING TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS TRANSACTION,
REACH ME ON MY EMAIL AS SPECIFIED ABOVE SOONEST.IN ANY CASE, PLEASE
KEEP
IT TIGHT SECRET.
BE INFORMED THAT THERE IS AN ARRANGEMENT GOING ON FOR THE CONVEYENACE
OF
THE CRATES CONTAINING THESE MONEY TO EUROPE SO YOU MUST BE READY TO
TRAVEL FOR THE CLEARANCE OF THE FUND.
WAITING TO HEAR AN URGENT RESPOND FROM YOU.
BEST REGARDS,
BARRISTER PAUL MARTIN.


Anti-fraud resources: