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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "Engr Shaka William" <engr_shakawilliam1@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: engr_shakawilliam@shellpetrol.net
Date: Thu, 10 Nov 2005 21:34:40 -0800
Subject: very urgent

Engineer Shaka William
Shell Petroleum South-Africa.
Reply via= engr_shakawilliam@shellpetrol.net
Attn: THE PRESIDENT/MANAGING DIRECTOR
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am Engineer Shaka William, a Director of the Contracts Award
and review Department with the Shell petroleum South-Africa.
I am contacting you on the business of transferring the
sum of US$20,500,000.00.(Twenty Million,five Hundred thousand
United States Dollars only) into a safe foreign account and
the need is very urgent. I got your contact from the
South-Africa Chambers of Commerce and it is with business
trust that made me to contact you on this matter.
I write to solicit for the transfer of this money into your account.
This Money was generated from an over Invoiced contract
sum in my corporation.
I am contacting you for your help and partnership for the
following two reasons:
(1) As a civil servant, I am not permitted to own
foreign accounts due to civil service code of conduct.
(2) My present financial resources as a civil servant
will not be sufficient for me to handle the transfer
alone successfully without financial assistance from
a reliable foreign partner abroad like you. 20% of
this sum would be for you as compensation for using
your Bank account in transferring this money, 5% would
be used to re-imburse the expenses made by both parties
during the processing of the transfer which includes,
telephone bills, travelling expenses and fees.
While 75% is for me.
Please note that I will arrange to meet with you
immediately after the successful conclusion of the transfer,
the 75% share of mine will be used for investment overseas.
Your assistance and co-operation is highly needed.
I assure you that this transaction is 100% risk free.
If you are interested I will require your banking
information as mentioned below:
1. Name to be used as beneficiary and beneficiarys address.
2. Your private and confidential telephone/ fax number(s)
and Cell phone.
3. Your bank name and address, your bank Telephone
and fax number(s). I hope to conclude this business
within the next fourteen- (14) working days.
Looking forward to your anticipated and urgent
positive response via e-mail. "engr_shakawilliam@shellpetrol.net"
Best regards,
Engineer Shaka William


Anti-fraud resources: