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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 about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "larry John" <barrlarryjohn502010@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: michael_muller_2007@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 23 Feb 2006 19:22:13 -0700
Subject: Financial Broker's Business Opportunity

Dear Sir,

I got your contact from the World Trade Organization directory of the US,
Canada & European Union and I am very sorry to interrupt your peace since
you are not expecting to receive any mail from me.

However, I was obliged to do so due to the importance and urgency of the
message. I crave your indulgence, and want to reassure you that I mean well
and that it is only for our mutual good. So please do not feel embarrassed.

I am a social worker with an international Governmental/Voluntary
organization based in Africa. I am the Accounts/Project Director in-charge
of the Middle East regional representation. Our organization, through local
NGO'S and other Agencies and in partnership with the United Nations High
Commission for Refugees, UNHCR, UNESCO, etc works and sponsors development
projects and social services in some third world/developing countries,
assistance and re-settlement of victims of natural disaster, civil wars and
Refugees, displaced/oppressed children and minority people around the world.

I am posted to Ivory Coast to ensure that there is peace and take care of
the citizens that were displaced by the recent conflict in that country.

In the cause of performing our duties we found a huge amount of cash neatly
arranged in a box in an abandoned Palace. I reached an agreement with the
members of my team whom are UN officials and we agreed to keep this money to
ourselves and then moved the box out of Ivory Coast to the Netherlands as a
Diplomatic Luggage and marked “ART CRAFTS – DO NOT OPEN PLEASE” with our
immunity as UN officials we are not searched at borders or airports.

Now, I am in need of a reliable and trustworthy person or company overseas
whom I can confidently work with since my work does not permit me to own a
foreign bank account or any
personal business until retirement, I have the honor to confide this
information in you and to request for your pleasure to assist to receive and
secure the money in your account, pending our retirement from service.

Please understand that my approach to you is based only on my positive
reasoning and on the belief that you will not disappoint or betray me at
last. The amount is fairly huge and we have agreed that on completion of the
deal, you will retain some reasonable percentage of the money (20%) as a
compensation for your assistance. The amount of the money is
US$15,500,000.00 (FIFTEEN POINT FIVE MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS) in
US$100 bills.

To consider our official positions, reputation and integrity, especially,
the opportunities in the
business itself, it is very necessary that all due care be taken so that we
do not miss the opportunity due to carelessness. We would actually invest
reasonable part of our money in your country under your guide and
assistance.


You are therefore expected and advised to display high degree of maturity,
responsibility and understanding in handling this information. I will give
you all the details in my next e-mail when you have indicated your interest
and commitment to work with me.

Always remember that this is the highest confidence and trust any person can
repose on the other, especially when it is considered that we did not know
ourselves before. I hope you will honor me too. We can come over to join you
for sharing and to guarantee that we have unlimited access to you before and
when the funds is in your possession.

More so for an effective and easy communication I will advice that you
furnish me with your telephone number as I eagerly await your positive
response.

Best regards,


Michael Muller


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