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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "george williams" <gwillms_cbn234@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 03 Nov 2005 17:53:28 +0000
Subject: ATTN:(TREAT AS URGENT)...

ATTENTION SIR/MADAM,

REQUEST FOR YOUR CO-OPERATION/ASSISTANCE {PLEASE THIS
IS NO SCAM}

MAY I CRAVE YOUR INDULGENCE TO OPEN THIS BUSINESS
DISCUSSION BY A FORMAL LETTER OF THIS SORT.IT IS
IMPORTANT, TO LET YOU NOTE THAT I HAVE CONTACTED ONE
DR SMITH EARLIER, BUT COULD NOT DEAL WITH HIM SINCE HE
WANTED A SHARE OF 60% OF THE TOTAL CONTRACT SUM. HE
HAS HOWEVER AGREED TO ACCEPT 10% OF THE TOTAL CONTRACT
SUM FOR SPONSORING THE PROJECT.

I AM READY TO GIVE OUT 25% FOR YOUR EFFORT.10% GOES
FOR THE SPONSOR OF PROJECT.

HAVING SAID THE ABOVE, PERMIT ME TO INTRODUCE MYSELF;
I AM ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE FOR
BUDGET AND PLANNING OF THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM.

THIS COMMITTEE IS PRINCIPALLY CONCERNED WITH CONTRACT
APPRAISAL AND THE APPROVAL OF CONTRACTS IN ORDER OF
PRIORITIES AS REGARDS CAPITAL PROJECTS OF THE PAST
GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA WITH OUR POSITIONS WE HAVE
SUCCESSFULLY SECURED FOR OUR SELVES THE SUM OF FIFTEEN
MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUNSAND DOLLARS (US$15.5M).

I PLAN TO TRANSFER THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY FIFTEEN
MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUNSAND DOLLARS (US$15.5M)
INTO AN OVERSEAS ACCOUNT BY AWARDING A NONE EXISTING
CONTRACT FROM MY MINISTRY (NNPC). TO THIS EFFECT I
DECIDED TO CONTACT YOU AND ASK FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE.

WHAT I NEED FROM YOU SIR, IS YOUR FULL NAME,
TELEPHONE/FAX NUMBER AND MAILING ADDRESS FOR
THE CHECK TO BE DELIVERED AND YOU CAN NOW OPEN
AN EXCREW ACCOUNT THAT THE TOTAL MONEY INQUESTION
WILL BE REMITTED TO. SO YOU ALSO GET BACK TO ME
VIA MY PERSONAL EMAIL WITH THE DETAILS AT:...gwillms_cbn234@yahoo.com

I HAVE AGREED TO COMPENSATE THE OWNER OF THE ACCOUNT
USED FOR THIS TRANSACTION WITH 30% OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT
REMITTED. WE SHALL KEEP 60% AND REMAINING 10% RESERVED
FOR TAXES AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES.

PLEASE SIR, KINDLY TREAT AS VERY URGENT AND STRICTLY
CONFIDENTIAL, I HONESTLY ASSURE YOU THAT THIS
TRANSACTION IS 100% RISK FREE.

I AM SORRY IF YOU ARE EMBARRASSED BY MY MAIL, I ONLY
FOUND YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS ON THE WEB DIRECTORY AND
DECIDED TO CONTACT YOU. BUT IF FOR ANY REASONS
WHATSOEVER YOU FIND THIS MAIL OFFENSIVE, YOU CAN
IGNORE IT AND PLEASE ACCEPT MY APOLOGY

BEST REGARD,
GEORGE WILLIAMS.



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