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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: "BELLO USMAN" <be_usman@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: belousma@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2005 21:38:15 +0000
Subject: Dear Friend

H.O.D. ACCOUNTS.
FEDERAL MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT .
VICTORIA ISLAND.
LAGOS - NIGERIA.

REQUEST FOR URGENT BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP.

FIRST I MUST SOLICIT FOR YOUR CONFIDENCE IN THIS TRANSACTION. THIS IS BY
VIRTUE OF IT BEING VERY CONFIDENTIAL . I AM BELLO USMAN AN ACCOUNTANT
(FOREIGN PAYMENT DEPT) WITH THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT LAGOS-
NIGERIA.

I CAME TO KNOW YOU IN MY SEARCH FOR A REPUTABLE PERSON TO HANDLE THIS
CONFIDENTIAL TRANSACTION WHICH INVOLVES THE HUGE TRANSFER OF MONEY TO A
FOREIGN BANK ACCOUNT REQUIRING MAXIMUM
CONFIDENCE.WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF SOME SENIOR OFFICIALS OF THE CENTRAL BANK
OF NIGERIA, AND THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE.

WE WANT TO TRANSFER THE SUM OF THIRTY-FIVE MILLION US DOLLARS OUT OF MY
COUNTRY, NIGERIA.THE THIRTY-FIVE MILLION US DOLLARS IS AN ACCUMULATION OF
OVER-INVOICED CONTRACTS WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN EXECUTED AND
COMMISSIONED.THIS AMOUNT STILL LIES IN THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF TRA! NSPORT
SUSPENCE ACCOUNT WITH THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN).AS CIVIL SERVANTS WE
CAN NOT OPERATE A FOREIGN ACCOUNT BECAUSE THE CODE OF CONDUCT ACT IN NIGERIA
MAKES IT AN OFFENCE FOR ANY PUBLIC OFFICER TO OPERATE FOREIGN ACCOUNT. IT IS
AS A RESULT OF THIS THAT WE SOLICIT YOUR ASSISTANCE TO MAKE USE OF YOU
PRIVATE/COMPANY'SACCOUNT TO TRANSFER THE SAID SUM.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL MODALITIES HAS BEEN WORKEDOUT FOR A SMOOTH AND
HITCH-FREE TRANSFER OF THE US$35MILLION INTO YOUR ACCOUNT, WITHIN TEN
WORKING DAYS OF GETTING YOUR POSITIVE RESPONSE AND CONSENT.YOU WOULD BE
ENTITLED TO 20% OF THE $35,000,000:00 FOR PROVIDING US AN ACCOUNT, 75% WOULD
COME TO US IN NIGERIA, AND THE REMAINING 5% WOULDBE USED TO OFFSET ALL
LOCAL/FOREIGN EXPENDITURE ON THE FOLLOWING GROUNDS.

(A) THAT WE ARE SATISFIED ON ALL GROUNDS THAT OUR SHARE OF THE FUND WOULD BE
GIVEN TO US AFTER TRANSFERENCE.

(B) THAT THIS TRANSACTION IS TREATED WITH UTMOST CONFIDENCE, SECRECY AND
ABSOLUTE SINCERITY, WHICH IT DEMANDS.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THE PROPOSAL, YOU CAN CONTACT ME NOW FOR FURTHER
DETAILS ON THE
TRANSACTION. YOU ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO PROVIDE A SECURED TELEPHONE AND FAX
NUMBERS FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS TRANSACTION.

EXPECTING TO HEAR FROM YOU SOONEST.

YOURS FAITHFULLY,

BELLO USMAN



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