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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: "Pedro Barretto" <pbarretto02@myway.com>
Date: Wed, 22 Jun 2005 17:32:31 -0400
Subject: Hello Friend


Dear Friend,

Good day to you. My name is Pedro Barretto the personal assistant to Mr. Stefano Tanzi who was the son of Don Calisto Tanzi the founder of Parmalat Food and Diary Co. in Italy. I got your contact from the computer department and information from our chambers of commerce when sourcing for a reputable contact Abroad with whom we can execute together a business of this magnitude requiring confidence and absolute trust. We, intend to solicit your assistance in the execution of a business transaction. It is our sincere conviction that you will handle this transaction with absolute confidentiality, maturity and utmost sense of purpose.

A few months ago, Don Calisto Tanzi was accussed of siphoning off $630 million from the company. Now, his son (Mr. Stefano Tanzi) have confided $40 Million USD to me. This cash is secured in 2 trunk boxes that is being lodged with a security company. I am now in Ulm, Germany from which I am communicating with you at this time. We need your assistance in the lodgement of the money in the banking system in your country and for investment of the money in real estate. Since it will be very risky to transfer such a large amount of money to you through regular bank account wiring, we have decided to use a more efficient way to move the cash to your base via Diplomatic Courier System.


The cash $40 Million USD is in 2 boxes, the boxes will be shipped to your base and delivered to your doorstep through diplomatic courier service (DCS) of the External Affairs Ministry. I hope you know that Diplomatic luggage’s cannot be check at any port of entry all over the world.
Although diplomatic courier service is exclusively created for diplomats but I have a contact at the DCS office that will ensure that the boxes are shipped along with other diplomatic luggage’s to you in your country. The contents of the boxes will be declared and Insured as classified documents and insurance bond instead of cash.

After receiving the boxes, you can then put the money in the bank for the proposed investment or keep it in a safe deposit box till I'm able to join you. DCS system of moving big volume
of cash is safe and tested. In the light of this DCS modality, your thoughts, opinion and response are welcome.

The execution of this transaction has been designed in such a way that it wont breach the laws of your country, neither mine. All you need to do is to follow my instruction and to keep all detail confidential.

Expecting your soonest response to this proposal.

Best regards,

Pedro Barretto
Tel/Fax: 49-731-230-9012


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