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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: "amir usman" <sheikh_amirusman@msn.com>
Reply-To: sheikh_amirusman@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 20 Feb 2006 10:53:35 +0000
Subject: URGENT AND CONFIDENTIAL

ATTN,
PRESIDENT/CEO


MY NAME IS SHEIKH AMIR USMAN,AM THE DIRECTOR INCHARGE OF FINANCE AND
CONTRACT AWARDING DEPARTMENT OF NIGERIA NATIONAL PETROLEUM COPERATION(
NNPC).
LAST YEAR THERE WAS A LAYING OF OIL PIPELINE CONTRACT AWARDED TO A GERMAN
COMPANY INVOLVING THE SUM OF $65MILLION US DOLLARS.

I AND MY COLLEAGUE IN THE CONTRACT AND PRECUREMENT DEPARTMENT OF THE
[NNPC)USED OUR POSITION TO OVER INVOICE THE CONTRACT SUM FROM $65MILLION US
DOLLARS TO$90MILLION US DOLLARS.

AFTER THE CONTRACT WAS EXECUTED, THE ORIGINAL CONTRACTORS COLLECTED THEIR
$65 MILLION US DOLLARS AND THE BALANCE OF $25MILLION US DOLLARS SINCE THEN
REMAIN IN AN ACCOUNT IN THE [NNPC].
I AND SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE DECIDED TO LOOK FOR A TRUST WORTHY PERSON
THAT WILL HANDLE THIS BUSINESS.

EVERY MODALITIES ON HOW TO EFFECT THE TRANSFER OF THIS MONEY HAS BEEN
COMPLETED.WE NOW WANT A FOREIGN PARTNER WHO WILL PROVIDE US WITH A COMPANY
OR EVEN PERSONAL BANK ACCOUNT WHERE WE CAN TRANSFER THIS MONEY THROUGH
TELEGRAPHIC MONEY TRANSFER.
PLEASE IF YOU ARE INTERESTED KINDLY REPLY US IMMEDIATELY AND INDICATE YOUR
INTEREST THROUGH THIS MY PERSONAL EMAIL ADDRESS. sheikh_amirusman@yahoo.com
AND THE REST OF THE DETAILS SHALL BE MADE KNOWN TO YOU.
MEANWHILE WE PROPOSED THE MONEY TO BE SHARED AS FOLLOWS,
50%GOES TO US THE [NNPC] OFFICIALS, 40%GOES TO YOU FOR PROVIDING YOUR BANK
ACCOUNT AND 10% STANDS FOR ANY EXPENCES INCURRED LOCALY $ INTERNATIONALY
DURING THE TRANSACTION.
AM EXPECTING YOUR URGENT AND FAVOURABLE REPLY.

REGARDS,
SHEIKH AMIR USMAN
PHONE-234-8033437351


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