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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: "VICTOR RIBADU" <micbank@hotmail.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: v_ribadu@yahoo.com.au
Date: Fri, 9 Dec 2005 12:23:57 +0000
Subject: IVESTMENT INQUIRY(please treat as uegent)

MR.VICTOR RIBADU.
ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATES
[ www.ecowas.int ]

Attention:

Subject: Seeking your sincere co-operation in transfer of US$153,000,000.00
(One Hundred and Fifty Three Million United States Dollars Only)
into a secured foreign account for subsequent investment.

I am the Auditor-General of the Economic Community of West African States [ECOWAS OFFICE GHANA],
I need your co-operation as a foreign partner in transfer of the above mentioned contract funds to a foreign bank account.
Please note that I am contacting you base on the investment interest I have in your country hence the completion of this
project.

I wish to inform you that every arrangement have been concluded to secure the required foreign exchange allocation
approval to the tune of US$153Million from the Ministry of Finance for the payment/transfer of these contract sum in
your name or your company’s name as our foreign contractor.

These funds originated from the budgetary allocation of logistics for the
ECOWAS MILITARY PEACE KEEPING FORCE [ECOMIL]between 1999 and 2004 with reference contract no:
(ECOMIL/GH-AC/572XB/7403-32/99 ) the sum (US$153M) represent the balance executed contract funds due for
payment.

On completion of the transfer of these funds into your designated bank account half of the total funds will be
invested 60-40 partnership while remaining balance (US$76.5M) will be released to me immediately on my arrival
to your country for my choice real estate investments.

If you are interested in my proposal please kindly send to me your private telephone and fax numbers for immediate
commencement of this project, internet is not secured for further communication on this project.

Thanks for your anticipated co-operation.
Best regards,
VICTOR RIBADU.



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