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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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Please note about this email:

Fraud email example:

From: "frank migwor" <dr_frank_migwor@msn.com>
Reply-To: dr_frank_migwor@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 30 Sep 2005 07:42:34 +0000
Subject: Mutual Benefit

DR. FRANK MIGWOR,
DEPARTMENT OF MINERALS AND ENERGY,
PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA.
Dear Friend,
 
It is my great pleasure in writing you this letter on behalf of my colleagues. Your information was given to me by a member of the South African Export Promotion Council (SAEPC) who was with the Federal Government delegation on a trip to your country for a bilateral conference talk to encourage foreign investors.  I have decided to seek a confidential co-operation with you in the execution of the deal described hereunder for the benefit of all parties and hope you will keep it confidential because of the nature of this business.
 
Within the Department of Minerals an Energy where I work as a Director of Audit and Project Implementation and with the co-operation of two other top officials, we have in our possession as overdue payment in US funds.
 
The said funds represent certain  percentage of the total contract value executed on behalf of my Department by a foreign contracting firm which we the officials over-invoiced to the amount of US$18.500,000.00<Eighteen Million Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars>. Though the actual contract cost has been paid to the original contractor, leaving the excess balance unclaimed.
Since the present elected Government is determined to pay foreign contractors all debts owed so as to maintain good relationship with foreign government and non-government agencies, we include our bills for approvals with the Department of Finance and the Reserve Bank of South Africa <RBSA>. We are seeking your assistance to front as beneficiary of the unclaimed funds, since we are not allowed to operate foreign accounts.Details and change of beneficiary information upon application for claim to reflect payment and approvals will be secured on behalf of you/your company.
 
I have the authority of my partners involved to propose that should you be willing to assist us in this transaction your share as compensation will be US$4.625 million dollars (25%), while my colleagues and I receive US$12.025 million (65%) and the balance of  US$1.850 million (10%) for taxation and miscellaneous expenses incurred.
 
The business itself is 100% safe and secure, provided you treat it with utmost confidentiality.It does not matter whether you/your company does contract projects as a transfer of powers will be secured in favour of you/your company. Also your area of specialization is not a hindrance to the successful execution of this transaction. I have reposed my confidence in you and hope that you will not disappoint me.Kindly notify me for further details upon your acceptance of this proposal.Thanks for your co-operation.
 
Best Regards,
DR. FRANK MIGWOR.

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