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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: "charlesokeke" <charlesokeke@damuc.org.br>
Reply-To: charlesokeke2@sify.com
Date: Sun, 7 Aug 2005 13:13:15 -0300
Subject: Pls Can You Assist??.

FROM THE DESK OF: Dr.Charles Okeke
Director,Contract Award committe,
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation
Ikoyi, Lagos.
 
Dear ,              
 
URGENT  ASSISTANCE
STRICTLY  CONFIDENTIAL
 
First and foremost, I apologised using this medium to reach you for a transaction of this magnitude, but this is due to confidentiality and prompt access reposed on this medium.I have decided to seek a confidential cooperation with you in the execution of the deal described hereunder for the benefit of all parties and hope you will keep it as a top secret due of its sensitive nature.
 
Your particulars were given to me by a member of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council(NEPC)  who was at the Federal Government Delegation to your country during a trade exhibition.  I have decided to seek a confidential cooperation with you Through your E-mail in the execution of the deal described hereunder for the benefit of all parties and hope you will keep it as a top secret because of the nature of this business. Within the Ministry of Petroleum Resources where I work as a Director,Contract Award Committe and with the cooperation of four other top officials,we have in our possession as overdue payment bills totalling Fourtty Five Million, Five Hundred Thousand U. S. Dollars(US$45,500,000.00) which we want to transfer abroad with assistance and cooperation of a foreign company/individual to receive the said fund on our behalf or a reliable foreign non-company account to receive such funds.
 
Moreso, we are andicapped in the circumstances as the Nigeria Civil Service Code of Conduct does not allow us as civil servant to operate offshore accounts,hence your importance in the whole transaction.The amount represents the balance of the total contract value executed on behalf of my Ministry by a foreign contracting firm which we the officials over-invoiced deliberately.  Though the actual contract cost have been paid to the origional contractor, leaving the balance in the tune of the said amount which we have in principles gotten approval to remit by Telegraphic Transfer (T.T) to foreign bank account you will provide by filing in an application through the Federal  Ministry  of Justice for the transfer of rights and privileges of the formal contractor to you.
 
Since the new civilian government of my country is determined to pay every foreign contractor all debts owed so as to maintain good relationship with foreign government and non-governmental financial agencies, therefore we have decided to include our bills for approvals with the cooperation of some officials from the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN). We are seeking your assistance in providing a vital account or any virgin bank account into which we can remit this money by acting as our main partner and trustee.  This we can do by swapping of account and changing of beneficiary and other forms of documentation upon application for claim to reflect the payment and approvals to be secured  on behalf of you.
 
This processes being pre-arranged with the principal trustee of the original contractor and  with the consent of the origional contractor. I have the authority of my partners involved to propose that should you be willing to  assist us in this transaction your share of the sum will be 15% of the US$45.5 million, 80% for us and 5% for taxation and miscellaneous expenses. The business itself is 100% safe for both parties, provided you treat it with utmost secrecy and confidentiality.
 
 Also your area of specialization is not an hindrace to the successful execution of this transaction. I have reposed my confidence in you and hope that you will not disappoint me. Please Indicate Your Willingness by replying this mail with your  Fax/Tell Number through this e-mail via  charlesokeke2@sify.com  Due to the confidentiality of this deal,so that we can discusse one on one. Thanks for your cooperations.
Yours faithfully,
Dr.Charles Okeke.

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