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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: "dmitrypavelvlakov" <dmpvlakov@tiscali.co.uk>
Reply-To: dmitrypvlakov@mail2world.com
Date: Thu, 7 Apr 2005 00:12:38 -0700
Subject: Investment Opportunity.



Attn.: Russian Investment Opportunity.


Dear Sir or Madam,



INTRODUCTION:


My name is Dmitry Pavel Vlakov, I am one of Mr. Mikhail

Khodorkovsky's
personal treasurers.

Mr. Khodorkovsky was once one of the richest men in Russia.
Mr. Khodorkovsky is owner of the following companies:


Chairman CEO: YUKOS OIL (Russia's Largest Oil Company)

Chairman CEO: Menatep SBP Bank (A well known and well respected
financial institution with branches all over the world)


Situation:

Some while ago whilst in the process of crediting certain funds, via
various European security and finance companies , Mr. Khodorkovsky

was
arrested for his political involvement in the financing of political
parties which posed a threat to President Vladimir Putin's second

tenure as
Russian president.

Due to these facts, Yukos Oil has been forced to file under chapter

11
for bankruptcy. Ironically the shares of our largest conglomerates

was
dubiously and specially orchestrated by Putin and sold to a local coy
just last week.
Due to the situation wit regards to Mr. Mikhail Khodorkovsky 'arrest'
and the recent takeover of the petroleum industry by the Russian
Government I have an amount in excess of $21.5M USD which I seek your

help and
'business advice' in acquiring access to.


SOURCE OF FUNDS:


The documents that allow me access to the funds in question were

handed
over to me [in the form of payment] by a United Stats based oil
merchant with regards to previous business done by him and Mr.

Khodorkovsky.
The funds are currently held by a European security and finance

company
who are charged with allocating and the final crediting of held

funds.

At completion of business, should you agree to help me, you will be
rewarded with the sum of 15% of the aforementioned sum [ or whichever
gratuity is larger ] in cash to an account of your choice for your
'advisory' input as a 'consultant'.


YOUR ROLE:


All I need from you is for you to agree to stand as the beneficiary

of
the above mentioned sum. I will arrange for the documentation to be
translated and filed with the relevant agencies which will enable the
European finance company transfer the sum to an account.

As soon as I receive confirmation of your readiness to go ahead with
the transfer of funds I will send you all the appropriate

documentation
that you need to continue including details of the European finance
house concerned with this transaction.


Sincerely



Mr. Dmitry Pavel Vlakov





___________________________________________________________

Book yourself something to look forward to in 2005.
Cheap flights - http://www.tiscali.co.uk/travel/flights/
Bargain holidays - http://www.tiscali.co.uk/travel/holidays/



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