joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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: "David Ray" <davidray01@msn.com>
Reply-To: david_ray_01@yahoo.fr
Date: Sat, 04 Feb 2006 08:25:06 +0000
Subject: ATTN: BENEFICIARY CONTRACTOR.

FROM THE DESK OF:

Dr. David Ray.

TT Director.

Lagos-Nigeria



ATTN: BENEFICIARY CONTRACTOR.

RE: UNPAID CONTRACT SUM

After waiting to hear from you or your Nigeria partners for a long time now,
I decided to make this direct approach to you in other not to let it be as
if I have anything in mind against you. I do not know if you have asked
yourself why each time the release of these fund is approved, all of a
sudden, the payment will be stopped or one problem or the other will come
up. If you have not asked this question or you do not know, this is an
opportunity for me to tell you.

Some time ago, your Nigerian friend I mean the people that introduced you to
the project approached me through my dear Wife who works with the Federal
Ministry of Finance and requested me to assist them conclude a money
transfer deal they had with you, they requested me to assist them by
removing the original contractors name, company’s name and bank particulars
from Central bank of Nigeria (CBN) vetting computer and replacing them with
your name and your bank details in order to make you appear as the rightful
beneficiary of this funds. I agreed on condition that they will pay me
$100,000 as soon as your name appears as the beneficiary. I did as agreed
and demanded to be paid but your friends started telling me stories. They
even told me that you promise to send money to me. Do you know that up till
now, I have not received a single cent from them and have not set my eyes on
any of them.

Based on their attitude, I decided to stop the funds release movement
because I cannot be denied of my right in my own office considering the risk
as it might affect my job. Secondly, I know the source of the funds and you
did not execute any contract in Nigeria, although I am the only person
privileged to know this information and it is a fact. Why I am making this
clear to you is that I can see that you are still making efforts spending
money in order to conclude this project. Now I am ready to forget the past,
I do not need the $100,000 any longer from you but a share of 25% of the
total sum. I need your assurance that those your colleagues will be totally
keep out of this transaction, I know that none of them is aware of this
transaction after trying their best to conclude it without my consent.

Finally, I need your promise that no official of the Central bank of Nigeria
will be aware of my involvement in this regard. Now re-assure me that you
will be willing to offer me the 25% of the fund, that you will assist my
wife and personal assistant to establish a foreign account in your country
where my share will be lodged. If you are ready to conclude this business
with me, you can contact me immediately so that we can have chat over this
issue once and for all so that we can move forward. But if the reverse is
the case, do not bother yourself to reach me.
Regards,

Dr David Ray.

DIRECTOR (K.T.T UNIT) C.B.N.


Anti-fraud resources: