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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: "MR. KUFOUR" <p_k5@walla.com> (may be fake)
Date: Mon, 1 Aug 2005 05:28:43 -0700
Subject: ATTENTION: NEEDED.

Good Sir,
URGENT BUSINESS PROPOSAL
I am Engr. Philips K. Kufour a Director of the contracts Award and review
Department with the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR).I am contacting you on this business
of transferring the sum of US$25,315,000.00 (United States Dollars only) into a
safe foreign account and the need is very urgent. I write to solicit for the transfer
of this money into your account. This Money was generated from an over invoiced
contract sum in my corporation (Tema Oil Refinery).Ghana I am contacting you for the following specific reasons:
1. As a civil servant, I am not permitted to own foreign accounts due
to civil service code of conduct.
2. My present financial resources as a civil servant will not be
sufficient for me to handle the transfer alone successfully without
assistance from good partner abroad.
20% of the sum would be for you as compensation for using your Bank account in
transferring this money 5% would be for the expenses made during the processing of the transferring, While 75% is for me.
Please note that I will arrange to meet with you immediately after the
successful conclusion of the transfer, the 75% share of mine will be used for investment overseas. Your assistance and cooperation is highly needed I assure you that this business is 100% risk free.If you are interested I will require your banking information as
mentioned below:
1. Your bank name and address
2. Your private and confidential telephone
3. Name to be used as beneficiary
4. Your bank Telephone and fax number
5. Or you can within the shortest possible time,confidentially open an
entire new (Virgin) account for the transaction. I would prefer this
arrangement If possible.

6. Your private and confidential telephone/fax number(s) I hope to
conclude this business within the next (10) working days. Looking
forward to your anticipated and urgent positive response.
Best regards
Engr. Philips K. Kufour
pls. for confidential reply to philips.kufour@personal.ro


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