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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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Fraud email example:

From: "MR philip" <philipeso1@yahoo.co.uk> (may be fake)
Date: Fri, 4 Jan 1980 02:44:57 +0100
Subject: from philip

NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION( N.N.P.C)
PLOT 775, MCPHERSON CLOSE,
VICTORIA ISLAND,
LAGOS, NIGERIA

ATTN: SIR/MADAM,

REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE & STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL

I AM MR PHILIP ESO, I AM AN ACCOUNTANT WITH THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION (N.N.P.C.). I HEADED A SEVEN-MAN TENDERS BOARD IN CHARGE OF CONTRACT AWARDS AND PAYMENT APPROVALS. I CAME TO KNOW OF YOU IN MY SEARCH FOR A RELIABLE AND REPUTABLE PERSON TO HANDLE A VERY CONFIDENTIAL TRANSACTION WHICH INVOLVES THE TRANSFER OF A HUGE SUM OF MONEY TO A FOREIGN ACCOUNT.

THERE WERE SERIES OF CONTRACTS EXECUTED BY A
CONSORTIUM OF MULTI-NATIONALS IN THE OIL INDUSTRY IN
FAVOUR OF N.N.P.C. THE ORIGINAL VALUE OF THIS CONTRACTS WERE DELIBERATELY OVER- INVOICED TO THE SUM
OF USD$30,000,000.00 (THIRTY MILLION UNITED STATES
DOLLARS).

THIS AMOUNT HAS BEEN APPROVED AND IS NOW READY TO
BE TRANSFERRED, BEING THAT THE COMPANIES THAT ACTUALLY
EXECUTED THESE CONTRACTS HAVE BEEN FULLY PAID AND THE
PROJECTS OFFICIALLY COMMISSIONED.

CONSEQUENTLY, MY COLLEAGUES AND I ARE WILLING TO
TRANSFER THE TOTAL AMOUNT TO YOUR ACCOUNT FOR
SUBSEQUENT DISBURSEMENT, SINCE WE, CIVIL SERVANTS
ARE PROHIBITED BY THE CODE OF CONDUCT BUREAU (CIVIL
SERVICE LAW) FROM OPERATING AND/OR OPENING FOREIGN
ACCOUNTS IN OUR NAMES. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE TRUST
REPOSED ON YOU AT THIS JUNCTURE IS ENORMOUS. IN
RETURN, WE HAVE AGREED TO OFFER YOU 25% OF THE
TRANSFERRED SUM, WHILE 10% SHALL BE SET ASIDE FOR
INCIDENTAL EXPENSES (INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL) BETWEEN
PARTIES IN THE COURSE OF THE TRANSACTION. YOU WILL BE
MANDATED TO REMIT THE BALANCE TO OTHER ACCOUNTS IN DUE COURSE.

MODALITIES HAVE BEEN WORKED OUT AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL
OF THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE AND THE CENTRAL BANK OF
NIGERIA (C.B.N.) FOR THE IMMEDIATE TRANSFER OF THE
FUNDS WITHIN 14 WORKING DAYS SUBJECT TO YOUR
SATISFACTION OF THE ABOVE STATED TERMS. OUR ASSURANCE
IS THAT YOUR ROLE IS RISK FREE.

TO ACCORD THIS TRANSACTION THE LEGALITY IT DESERVES
AND FOR MUTUAL SECURITY OF THE FUNDS THE WHOLE
APPROVAL PROCEDURES WILL BE OFFICIALLY AND LEGALLY
PROCESSED WITH YOUR NAME OR THE NAME OF ANY COMPANY
YOU MAY NOMINATE AS THE BONAFIDE BENEFICIARY.

ONCE MORE, I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT HAVING PUT IN
OVER TEN YEARS IN THE CIVIL SERVICE OF MY COUNTRY, I
AM AVERSE TO HAVING MY IMAGE AND CAREER DENTED. THIS
MATTER SHOULD THEREFORE BE TREATED WITH THE UTMOST
SECRECY AND URGENCY IT DESERVES.

KINDLY EXPEDITE ACTION AS WE ARE BEHIND SCHEDULE TO
ENABLE US CONCLUDE THIS TRANSFER.

THANKS FOR YOUR ANTICIPATED CO-OPERATION.

YOURS SINCERELY,
MR PHILIP ESO




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