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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: "john williams" <williams2006_376@msn.com>
Date: Wed, 21 Sep 2005 02:58:49 +0000
Subject: Good day

From: Dr. JOHN WILLIAMS
Contract Award Committee
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)
NNPC Towers, Kofo Abayomi, Lagos
Nigeria.
Dear Sir,
Forgive my indignation if this message comes to you as a surprise and
if it might offend you without your prior consent and writing through this
channel. I am Dr. JOHN WILLIAMS, The Secretary, of the Contract
Award Committee (CAC) of the Nigerian National  Petroleum Corporation
(NNPC). I got your contact through my country’s foreign trade mission after
I was convinced in my mind that you or your company can act as the
 beneficiary of the USD14, 500,000.00 (Fourteen Million Five hundred
thousand United States Dollars only) Which we intend to transfer into a foreign account. This fund was a residue of the over invoiced contract bills awarded by us for the TURN AROUND MAINTENANCE (TAM) of our Refineries in WARRI, PORT-HARCOURT and KADUNA and also the Supply of hard/soft wares, pharmaceuticals/medical
items, light and heavy duty vehicles, apparels and other administrative
logistics for the NNPC.

      Therefore, we have resolved to go into partnership with you to
transfer the sum of US$14.5m into your  account, by awarding your
company an invented contract to the tune of US$14.5m. While we must
carryout proper documentation to ensure that this is 100% risk-free for
you and all the legal requirements are met. It is however
agreed, as the account owner in this deal to allow you 20% of the
entire sum as compensation, 70% will be held on trust for us while 10%
will be used to defray any incidental charges and costs during the
course of the transaction. This transaction will be successfully concluded
within 14 Bank Working days. If you accord to us your
unalloyed and due cooperation. Be rest assured that this proposal is
100% risk-free and please, keep this very confidential, as we are
still civil servants in active service and are bounded by the civil
service commission acts of Nigeria. This acts Prohibits Civil Servants
(like us) from owning/operating foreign accounts. This is the only
reason we contacted you and where you come into this transaction.
  
 Finally, I wish to assure you that all the machinery and logistics
that will ensure a successful and smooth transfer have been put in
place. Since we are going to use our connections in the Federal
Ministry of Finance (FMF) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to
effect the immediate transfer of the funds. Please endeavor to reply for a
more detailed information. I anticipate your urgent response. Thank you and
God bless you.
Dr. JOHN WILLIAMS O.F.R. (Order of the Federal Republic)

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