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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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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "KEN EDWIN" <dredwinng@o2.pl> (may be fake)
Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2006 03:20:24 +0100
Subject: URGENT BUSINESS


SHELL NIGERIA EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION COMPANY LTD.

REQUEST FOR URGENT/BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP.

I DR. KEN EDWIN the Financial Controller of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Ltd . I got your contact address from an associate working with the Nigeria Export Promotion Council and decided to propose to you this business in strict confidence.

PURPOSE:
On behalf of myself and my colleagues who are ministerial officials and other officers in charge of offshore remittance in this corporation, we are seeking your assistance for the transfer of thirty million US dollars (US30, 000,000.00) to your private account for further private investment purpose. Hence our request for your assistance.

SOURCE OF FUND:
This amount to be transferred into your account accrued from over invoiced contract amount for the MAINTENANCE OF SAND DETECTION EQUIPMENT AND PIPELINES in Oil Refinery NNPC Sub-Stations in Nigeria (Niger Region) in 2002 and completed April 2004 to expatriate companies. The contract which was originally valued for (One Hundred and fifty Million U.S Dollars) US$150,000,000.00 was manipulated to read One Hundred and Eighty Million U.S Dollars (US$180,000,000.00). The extra US$30,000,000.00 is what we want to transfer to your account.This contract has been completely executed and the contractors have been paid all their contract sums remaining this US$30,000,000.00.

REQUIREMENTS:
What I expect from you by a return email during your response are:
(a) Name and address of your Bank
(b) Your Bank account number
(c) The account beneficiary' s name and address
(d) Your Telephone and Fax numbers, for easy
communication.

DISBURSEMENT:
We have resolved that you take 30% of the total amount for your assistance because it is impossible for us to claim the over invoiced amount here in Nigeria without your assistance. In addition, 10 % has been mapped out for any miscellaneous expenses incurred by you and us during this business, and 60% is for my colleagues and myself.

SECURITY:
All modalities to effect the payment and subsequent transfer of this money had been worked out, so this transaction is 100% RISK FREE. Though you are required to treat this business with the strictest confidence. I wait your immediate response through my alternative email address dredwinng12@yahoo.com and send me your confidential fax and phone numbers for speedy correspondence. I will highly appreciate it if you treat this business with strict confidence it demands for security reasons.

It might surprise you why we choose you and trusted you for this transaction. Yes we believe that good friends can be discovered and business like this cannot be realized without trust. This is why we have decided to trust you for this transaction. We are looking forward to doing this transaction with you. Be further informed that your interests and security had been considered before you were contacted, so be rest assured and feel free to go into this transaction with us, but let honesty and trust be our watchword throughout this transaction.
Truly yours.
DR. KEN EDWIN.


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