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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: igodo@zipmail.com.br
Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2005 09:26:28 -0800
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?DEAR=20SIR/MADAM?=

DR.MORRIS IGODO ONUOHA
ACCOUNT DEPARTMENT,(NNPC)
LAGOS- NIGERIA.

DEAR SIR,
IT IS WITH TRUST AND CONFIDENCE THAT I MAKE THIS URGENT AND IMPORTANT BUSINESS
PROPOSAL TO YOU. I AM SENIOR ACCOUNTANT WITH THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM
CORPORATION (NNPC) HERE IN LAGOS. I HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED BY MY COLLEAGUES
TO SEEK A FOREIGN PARTNER IN THE TRANSFER OF THE SUM OF US$7 M (SEVEN MILLION
UNITED STATES DOLLARS) ONLY. THIS MONEY AROSE FROM A DELIBERATE OVER ? INVOICING
OF A PARTICULAR CONTRACT AWARDED TO FOREIGN CONTRACTORS IN 2001.

WE HAVE BEEN SAFEGUARDING THIS MONEY SINCE THEN, AWAITNG AN APPROPRIATE
TIME WHEN THE MONEY CAN BE TRANSFERRED INTO A SAFE KEEPING, PENDING OUR
ARRIVAL FOR THE SHARING AND UTILIZATION WITH THE OWNER OF THE ACCOUNT. NOW
THE NEW CIVILIAN GOVERNMENT HAVE ORDERED THAT ALL DEBTS OWED FOREIGN CONTRACTORS
BY THE GOVERNMENT BE PAID IMMEDIATELY, ON THE STRENGTH OF THIS ORDER, WE
WISH TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT TO PRESENT YOU OR YOUR COMPANY AS ONE OF THE
CONTRACTORS BEING OWED BY THE GOVERNMENT. MEANWHILE, WE HAVE AGREED THAT
THE MONEY WILL BE SHARED THUS, 75% WILL BE FOR US( I AND MY COLLEAGUES),20%
WILL BE FOR YOU FOR PROVIDING THE NECESSARY ASSISTANCE WHILE THE REMAINING
5% HAS BEEN MAPPED OUT FOR INCIDENTAL EXPENSES THAT MIGHT BE INCURRED IN
THE COURSE OF THIS TRANSACTION.

NOTE, THAT THE NATURE OF YOUR COMPANY?S BUSINESS IS IRRELEVANT TO THIS TRANSACTION
AS ALL ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN CONCLUDED FOR A SUCCESSFUL AND HITCH- FREE
TRANSACTION. NOTE THAT THIS MONEY IS STILL IN SUSPENSE ACCOUNT OF MY CORPORATION
(NNPC) WITH CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA.YOU ARE REQUIRED TO US IMMEDIATELY.

(1) YOUR PHONE AND FAX NUMBERS

WE HAVE TAKEN MEASURES TO ENSURE THAT THERE ARE NO RISKS INVOLVED ON BOTHPARTIES.
WE HAVE ESTIMATED THAT THIS TRANSACTION WILL BE CONCLUDED WITHIN 14 WORKING
DAYS ON RECEIPT OF YOUR ACCEPTANCE LETTER TO THIS PROPOSAL BY FAX . PLEASE
REACH ME THROUGH THE EMAIL ADDRESS ABOVE SIGNIFYING YOUR INTEREST IN THIS
BUSINESS THIS INFORMATION IS HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL AND URGENT.FURTHER INFORMATION
WILL BE CONVEYED TO YOU AS SOON AS I RECEIVE YOUR ACCEPTANCE RESPONSE.

BEST REGARDS.
DR.MORRIS IGODO ONUOHA




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