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: "MR PAUL INNOCENT" <pinnocent@uk2.net> (may be fake)
Date: Sun, 23 Oct 2005 20:40:05 -0700
Subject: PLEASE FOR YOUR KINDLY UNDERSTANDING.

Dear Friend,

I have been motivated to contact you on a vital issue which i see as been important in your country through you.I have decided to establish contact with you for project assistance as soon as I am able to conclude with you and handover the necessary in formations for this investment project, which the fund meant for,r it is already with a financial company.
There are two basic things i would want you to assist me in;

(1) Helping by making company registration with your name and mine in your country after the collection of this funds from the financial firm where it was deposited. This is because of my inability to travel out of the country which i am taking one of the important position in government at the moment with my wife and children,which i will explain better to you upon the receipt of your acceptance.

(2)Helping me to carry out feasibility study on areas/choice of investment you dream best. I will be retire soon as coordinator contract warding committee and was the last personal financial adviser to the committee before this position now and I have intention of carrying out further investment pro gramme in your country for reasons;

we are not allowed to operate on foreign account transaction and international investment while in service. our work is to bid,approve,re-view contract project to government.and the only way we can benefit from this is over quotation of contract price with the assistant of most contractors who agreed on our terms, so i have to be truthful to you and assured YOU the source of this fund.

If you can assist on this please ONLY enclose your phone and fax numbers to reach you and i will give you details for the collection of this funds now. The amount is two million five hundred thousand dollars, for your assistant on this you will take out one million dollars as your benefit and leave the remaining one for me. Please you can reach me on +233-244-139-896. or email on pinnocent@uk2.net

Yours sincerely,
MR PAUL INNOCENT.


Anti-fraud resources: