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: "The Secretary" <the_secretary@contractreviewpanel.net>
Reply-To: dr_gyado2000@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Sun, 17 Apr 2005 01:12:15 +0000
Subject: PLEASE RESPOND

My greetings.

Please read through this proposal with an open mind. It is highly
legitimate and will not cost you anything financially or otherwise to
execute.

I got your email address from a casual enquiry wherein I sought for
trustworthy potential partners with whom to go into business with in
theinvestment of some contact funds ( $ 8,500,000.00 U.S ) currently
trapped. It is my hope that you will be of assistance in helping me free the
trappedfunds, transfer it, and put it to investment purpose. 10% of the
funds will accrue to you for your assistance.

The source of the funds are as follows: During the last military regime in
my country,government officials awarded contracts that were grossly
over-invoiced to Contractors. The present civilian government set up the
Contract ReviewPanel, and mandated it to use the instruments of payments
made available to it by the decree setting up the panel, to
review those contracts and if necessary pay those who are being owed
outstanding amounts.I have identified the abovementioned sum which have been
lying unclaimed for years and would like to transfer and invest it. My
position as a current serving Civil servant forbids me from operating
foreign Bank accounts, this is why I need your assistance.

Here is where you come in : I need you to furnish me with the following
information :
1. YOUR FULL NAMES
2. BUSINESS NAMES
3. ADDRESS
4. TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS

With these information, I will forward an application for payment in your
business's favour and ensure that it is approved. Upon the transfer of the
funds, I will meet with you in your country so that we can go into
investment after sharing in the agreed percentages ( 10% for you ).

Note that this venture is not a scam YOU WILL NOT BE REQUIRED TO SPEND
YOUR PERSONAL FUNDS DURING,BEFORE OR AFTER THE PROJECT IS CONCLUDED.

Please do reply.

Dr Gyado.


Anti-fraud resources: