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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: "Sullivan Richard" <s.richard2@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: sullivan_040@walla.com
Date: Tue, 13 Sep 2005 16:29:22 +0000
Subject: From Sullivan

URGENT BUSINESS PROPOSAL
Engineer Richard Sullivan
Shell Petroleum South Africa.
E-mail:sullivan_060@walla.com

Attn: MANAGING DIRECTOR/PRESIDENT/CEO

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am Richard Sullivan, a director of contracts evaluation and
implemention department of Shell Petroleoum,South Africa. I am married with
Childrenand hold degrees in economics and business studies.I require
urgently your unreserved assistance in providing me with a safe and reliable
bank account with full details, where I can transfer thesum of $20.5M
(Twenty million five hundred thousand United States of AmericanDollars) The
purpose of the transfer is to take care of my retirement by investing in a
viable business you might deem fit to advise.

This sum of money was generated as a result of over-invoiced contracts
awarded by my colleagues and I, and I have arranged for the money to be
remitted out through a reliable expatriate partner whom I can present
as the beneficiary, as my present status and financial resources will not be
sufficient for me to handle the transfer successfully without the
financial assistance of a reliable foreign partner.I got your profile from
our chamber of commerce and it is with business trust that I write to
request, you partner with us to facilitate the transfer of this money to
your nominated bank account for our mutual benefits.

Note that 20% will go to you for your efforts and your contribution, 5%
is for miscelleneous expenses incurred by both parties, and 75% will be
shared between me and colleagues which will be use for business investment
inyour country under your supervision.Please if you are interested kindly
send to me immediately theunderlisted:

1. Name to be used as beneficiary and beneficiarys address.
2. Your private and confidential telephone/ fax number(s)and Cell
phone.3. Your bank name,address,bank Account Number and Telephone/fax
number(s).Contact me via my alternative e- mail: sullivan_060@walla.com as
soonas you receive my mail. I hope to conclude this business within the next
fourteen- (14) working days.Looking forward to your anticipated and
urgent positive response.

Thanks indeed,

Richard Sullivan


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