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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.

 

 

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

Fraud email example:

From: "Raymond Ettah" <drrayettah1@msn.com>
Date: Thu, 19 Jan 2006 20:16:41 +0000
Subject: Reply asap.

From:Dr.Raymond Ettah
E-mail:drrayettah1@graffiti.net
Falomo, Lagos.

REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE - STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL:

I am Dr.Raymond Ettah. an Accountant in the Nigerian National Petroleum
Corporation (NNPC) and I head a seven-man tenders committee in charge of
foreign/Expatriate Contract Awards Review and Payment Approvals (CRPAC).

I came to know of your name and address in my search for a reliable and
low-key person to handle a very confidential transaction based on
unflinching trust as we have not met before.This transaction involves the
transfer of huge sum of foreign exchange (the United
States Dollars)to a foreign account. There were a series of contracts
executed by a Consortium of Multinationals in the oil industry in favour of
NNPC among which are:

(1)The expansion and rehabilitation of the ageing pipeline network within
Nigeria for crude oil and downstream products distribution and evacuation -
US$9Billion

(2) Contracts for the Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) of the four epileptic
refineries in the country.

(3) The construction of more storage tanks and maintenance and servicing of
old ones for Petroleum Products Storage (Depots) - US$90 Million

(4) The construction of Escravos Gas Poduction Offshore facility.

The original value of these contracts was deliberately over-invoiced in the
sum of USD Eighteen Million, Five Hundred Thousand($18,500,000.00) by this
committee (CRPAC) during the awards of the various contract.
This sum($18,500,000.00) has now been approved for payment by this
committee(CRPAC)and is now ready to be transfered by the Central Bank of
Nigeria to the account of any individual and or company which the CRPAC
presents as the beneficiary, since the company
that actually executed these contracts has been fully paid their fund and
the projects have been officialy commissioned.

Consequently, my colleagues and I are willing to transfer the total amount
to your account for subsequent disbursement on our behalf, since we as civil
servants and we are also serving in a sensitive
foreign payment approval committee (CRPAC) are prohibited by the Code of
Conduct Bureau (Civil Service Laws) from opening or operating foreign
account and or dealing in foreign exchange 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)
accrued between the parties in the
course of the transaction. The balance will be used to purchase agricultural
equipment and medical drugs from your country for importation back to my
country.

You must however note that this transaction is subject to the following
termsand conditions:

a) Our conviction of your transparent honesty and diligence

b) That you would treat this transaction with utmost secrecy and
confidentiality

c) That you have an unflincing trust in us, and our ability to complete all
official processes with your co- operation.

(d) That the funds would be transfered to an ordinary account which you have
total control over.

Modalities have been worked out (secretly) at the highest levels of the
relevant government departments involved and the Central Bank of Nigeria for
the immediate transfer of 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 fund, 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, as in an
ideal situation.It is imperative that you bear in mind that having put in 19
years in the service of the government,I am averse to having my image and
career dented. This matter should therefore be treated with utmost secrecy
and urgency.

Kindly expedite action by contacting me on my e-mail
drrayettah1@graffiti.net ,indicating your interest in this transaction.
For swift response to your reply,kindly indicate your fax and telephone
numbers clearly so that I can explain further, especially by fax. I am
urgently waiting your reply as payment to foreign contractors is usually
made on quarterly basis.

Yours faithfully,
Dr.Raymond Ettah.


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