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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: "JOHNSON AARON" <johnson01aaron@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 07 Dec 2005 14:23:06 +0200
Subject: PARTNERSHIP

FROM: Mr. Johnson Aaron.
TEL: 27 835 092 923.



Sir/ Madam,

In order to transfer out (US$15 Million) Fifteen Million United States
Dollars from First National Bank
(FNB).I have picked up the trust and courage to write you this letter with
divine confidence that you are are liable and honest Person who will be
capable for this important business transaction
Believing also that you will never let me down either now or in the future.

My name is Mr. Johnson Aaron a senior Auditing Officer with the FNB in South
Africa There is an account
Opened in this bank in 1995 and since 1996 nobody has operated on this
account again. After going
Through some old files in the records, I discovered that if I do not remit
this money out urgently it would be forfeited to the government.

The owner of this account died since 1996. No other person knows about this
account or any thing
Concerning it, the account has no other beneficiary and my investigation
proved to me as well that this company does not know anything about this
account and the amount involved is (US$15 million) Fifteen million United
States Dollars.

I want to transfer this sum of Fifteen million United States Dollars into a
safe foreign account abroad. I am contacting you based on the fact that you
are foreigner because this money can only be approved for payment to a
foreigner, more so it can not be approved by any local bank here, as this
money is in US Dollars hence the former owner of this account is a foreigner
too. I know that this proposal will come to you as a surprise as we don't
know ourselves before. However I got your contact from a trade consultant
here in South Africa though I did not disclose the purpose of my seeking for
a foreign business partner to him.

I have involved a very senior official in the Operational department and we
have agreed that after
The transfer of the money into your account, you shall be entitled to 30% of
the total sum. We the
Officials will take 60% while 10% is for expenses. All necessary precautions
have been taken to
Ensure 100% risk free situation on the side of both parties.

Please note that this deal can only take place on the following conditions:
-

1. You will provide the bank account and other relevant
Particulars/information for easy and onward Remittance of this money.

2. Absolute confidentiality and sincerity will be required and guaranteed,
considering our (me and my
Partners) positions in the bank.

All things being equal, this transaction will be within 10 working days as
soon as we hear from you.
Please treat with utmost confidentiality. Contact me as quickly as possible
through the above fax or telephone number.

Regards,

Mr. Johnson Aaron


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