joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Chris Uba" <chrisuba_nnpc@msn.com>
Reply-To: chrisuba_nnpc1@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 25 Oct 2005 16:11:47 +0000
Subject: Trusting you

NIGERIA NATIONAL
PETROLEUM CORPORATION
21 VICTORIA ISLAND LAGOS
ATTENTION,
PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

Dear friend,

I am Dr Chris Uba,Having consulted with my colleagues and based on the
information
Gathered from the Nigerian Chambers Of Commerce And Industry, I have the
privilege to request your assistance to transfer the sum of (15,500.000.00)
FIFTEEN MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS, into your
accounts.
The above sum resulted from an over-invoiced contract, executed,
Commissioned and paid for about three years ago by a foreign contractor.

This action was however intentional and since then the fund has been in
a suspense account at The Central Bank Of Nigeria Apex Bank. We are now
ready to transfer the fund overseas and that is where you Come in. It
is important to inform you that as civil servants, we are Forbidden to
operate a foreign account; that is why we require your assistance.
The total sum will be shared as follows: 60% for us, 35% for you and 5%
for local and international expenses incidental to the transfer.
The transfer is risk free on both sides. I am an accountant with the
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). If you find this
proposal acceptable,we shall require the following documents:
(1) Your banker name and address (2) Your private telephone and fax numbers
for confidentiality and easy communication.

(3) Your full name and address.

Alternatively we will furnish you with an application form which you
will file and apply directly to the Central Bank of Nigeria, where this
money was deposited, along with a breakdown explaining, comprehensively
what we require of you. With the full assurances this business will only
take us (14) working days to accomplish.

I Await your urgent response.

Yours Sincerely

Dr Chris Uba


Anti-fraud resources: