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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: "Richard" <brownrichx@hotmail.com> (may be fake)
Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 12:31:57 -0600
Subject: hi




DEAR,
I AM MR. RICHARD BROWN,
WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE
OPERATIONS, FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCES. AND THE
NIGERIAN CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE (FOREIGN TRADE
DIVISION)
I would like to,
run a very benefitable transaction with you.
THIS TRANSACTION REQUIRES MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING,
TRANSPARENCY AND ABSOLUTE TRUST.
ONE MR. LEWIS JORDAN FROM INDIA EXECUTED A CONTRACT
WITH THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF AVIATION HERE IN NIGERIA.
THE CONTRACTWORTH IS FOURTY MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND U.S.D
STATES DOLLARS (US$40,500,000.00), BUT DURING THE
PROCESS OF TRANSFERRING THE MONEY TO HIM, HE DIED IN
AN EARTHQUAKE DISASTER THAT OCCURED RECENTLY IN INDIA.
MEANWHILE THIS FUND IS PRESENTLY IN A SECURITY COMPANY
CALLED BOUNDS AND CLEAR SECURITY DEPARTMENT,
IN OVERSEAS. NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT THIS FUND AND WHAT IS GOING ON
EXCEPT ME AND YOU, CAUSE I FEEL THAT AM GOING TO HAVE A GREAT TRUST
IN YOU.
SO I WOULD WANT TO TAKE YOU AS A BUSINESS PARTNER IF ONLY YOU
CAN HELP ME IN TRANSFERING THIS FUND INTO YOUR BANK
OR CREDIT ACCOUNT, AND AS A PARTNER YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE A SHARE
OF 40 PERCENT.
I HAVE CONTACTED THE FORIEGN BANK THAT IS RUNNING THE TRANSACTION
THE BANK IS LOCATED IN UK, AND IS CALLED NATWEST.
I OPENED MY FIRST DEBIT ACCOUNT WITH THEM WHEN I WAS IN UK, AND
NOW I HAVE A SOLO CARD WITH THE BANK.
I HAVE CONTACTED THE GENERAL MANAGER OF NATWEST TO HELP ME IN TRANSFERING
THE MONEY INTO A PARTICULAR ACCOUNT OR DEPIT ACCOUNT NUMBER WHICH AM GONG
TO BRING TO HIM IN THE NEXT 1 MONTH. AND HE AGREED CAUSE AM A CUSTOMER TO
THE BANK AND BECAUSE I HAVE AN ACOOUNT WITH THE BANK.
BUT THE ONLY PROBLEM I HAVE RIGHT NOW IS A FORIEGN ACCOUNT OR DEBIT ACCOUNT
THAT AM GOING TO TRANSFER THE MONEY INTO THAT AM LOOKING FOR, SO ALL WHAT AM
ASKING YOU NOW IS FOR YOU TO HELP TO GET AM FORIGN ACCOUNT OR DEBIT ACCOUNT
NUMBER WHERE I CAN TRANFER THE FUND TO AND ME AND THE OWNER OF THE ACCOUNT
ARE GOING TO SHARE THE PERCENTGE AND PLEASE I WANT YOU TO CONTACT ME
WITH THIS E-MAIL:brownrichx@hotmail.com
TAKE CARE TILL I GET REPLY.


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