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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: <docobi2003@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 13 Jul 2005 2:10:33 +0100
Subject: GREETINGS FROM DR. VICTOR OBI.

DEAR SIR/MADAM,

RE: TRANSFER OF US$28.6 AMERICAN DOLLARSINTOYOUR ACCOUNT

AFTER DUE DELIBERATION WITH MY COLLEAGUE, IDECIDED TOFORWARD TO YOU
THIS BUSINESS PROPOSAL, WE WANT YOU TOASSIST US RECEIVETHE SUM OF
TWENTY EIGHT MILLION, SIX HUNDREDTHOUSAND UNITED STATEDOLLARS (US$28.6M)
INTO YOUR ACCOUNT.
THIS FUNDRESULTED FROM ANOVER-INVOICED CONTRACT AWARDED BY US UNDER
THEBUDGETALLOCATION TO MYMINISTRY AND THE BILL WAS APPROVED FOR
PAYMENT BY THECONCERNEDMINISTRIES. THE CONTRACT WAS EXECUTED, COMMISSIONED
AND THECONTRACTORWAS PAID HIS ACTUAL COST OF THE CONTRACT. WE ARE
LEFT WITHTHE BALANCEOF US$28.6M AS THE OVER INVOICED AMOUNT WHICH WE
HAVEDELIBERATELY OVERESTIMATED FOR OUR OWN USE BUT UNDER THE PROTOCOL
DIVISION, CIVILSERVANTS ARE FORBIDDEN TO OPERATE OR OWN FOREIGN
ACCOUNTS.
THIS ISWHY, I CONTACT YOU FOR AN ASSISTANCE. WE HAVEAGREED TO SHARE
THE MONEYAS
FOLLOWS:
1. 30% FOR YOU (ACCOUNTOWNER)
2. 60% FOR US
3. 10% FORTAX, AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY YOURGOVERNMENT.
AS YOU MAY WANT TO KNOW ANDTO MAKE YOU LESS CURIOUS, I GOTYOUR
ADDRESS FROM OUR REPUTABLE SOURCEWHICH WE WISH TO KEEP SECRETFOR SECURITY
REASONS.
I AM THE EXECUTIVECHAIRMAN OF THE CONTRACTAWARD COMMITTEE OF THE
MINISTRY OF HEALTH.THIS TRANSACTION IS VERY
MUCH FREE FROM ALL SORT OF RISK HENCE THEBUSINESS WAS CAREFULLY
PLANNED BEFORE IT WAS EXECUTED AND WE THEMINISTRY OFFICIALS INVOLVEDIN THE DEAL
HAVE PUT MANY YEARS IN SERVICESTO OUR MINISTRY. WE HAVEBEEN
EXERCISING PATIENCE FOR THIS OPPORTUNITYFOR SO LONG AND TO MOSTOF US, THIS IS
A LIFE TIME OPPORTUNITY WECANNOT AFFORD TO MISS.
UPONINDICATION OF YOUR INTEREST TO FULLY ASSISTUS IN THIS
TRANSACTION,YOU ARE ADVISED TO FURNISH US WITH THEFOLLOWINGS:-

1. YOUR BANKER'SNAME AND ADDRESS
2. YOUR BANK ACCOUNTNUMBER
3. NAME OF THEBENEFICIARY OF THE ACCOUNT
4. YOUR PRIVATETELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERSFOR EASY COMMUNICATION

THIS INFORMATIONWILL ENABLE US SEEK APPROVALOF THE FUND FROM THE
CONCERNED GOVERNMENTQUARTERS/MINISTRIES WITHIN3-4 BANKING DAYS AND
THE NIGERIA MINISTRY OFHEALTH PAYMENT
DOCUMENTFORM WILL BE EMAILED IMMEDIATELY TO YOUFOR
COMPLETION. ONE OF MYCOLLEAGUES AND I INVOLVED IN THIS DEAL WILLCOME
OVER TO YOUR COUNTRYTO ARRANGE FOR OUR OWN SHARE UPONCONFIRMATION
FROM YOU THAT THE MONEYHAS HIT YOUR NOMINATED BANKACCOUNT.
YOU ARE ADVISED NOT TO GO THROUGHINTERNATIONAL OPERATORBECAUSE OF THE
CONFIDENTIALITY AND SENSITIVITYINVOLVED IN THISTRANSACTION. LET
HONESTY AND TRUST BE OUR WATCHWORDTHROUGHOUT THISTRANSACTION. I SHALL
FURNISH YOU WITH SOME DETAILSABOUT MYSELF. YOURPROMPT REPLY WILL BE
HIGHLY APPRECIATED

BEST REGARDS.
DR. VICTOROBI.


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