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: don steve <donsteve@ozzyemail.com>
Date: Fri, 21 Apr 2006 15:17:53 +0100
Subject: OIL LIFTING PARTNERSHIP


Sir,

PROPOSAL FOR OIL LIFTING PARTNERSHIP

We are happy to inform you that Bact Petroleum Oil exploration company is looking for foreign investors for the purpose of bidding for an oil field which has been recently discovered. We have Federal Government license to explore a 14 square kilometre off-shore rig at Bilabiri Orobiri Oil field which had already drilled 8 wells and discovered Oil.
The field has proven reserve of 12.89 million barrels of Oil of 54 billion cubit feet (bet) of gas with upsides of 138 million barrels of oil and 1.3 trillion cubit feet of gas.
We have spent the total of $55,000,000.00 (fifty five million U.S. dollars) already on exploration. The Company now need a foreign investor to invest to the tune of $15,000,000.00 (fifteen million U.S. dollars), as part of his claim to the shares of the company. This amount will be used to offset certain fees payable to its consultants based overseas. Due to the agreement between The federal Government, no individual is allow to hold share more than 15% in the company and more over, need foreign invests which will help in the advertisement oil boom. All I need of you is to front this money which I already deposited in Europe, and the proceed will be shared 60/40%, while the latter is yours.
All these claims shall be discussed among us, Bact Petroleum Oil limited, and concrete arrangement will be made when you have shown interest in our offer.
We expect your reply as soon as possible. Until then,
Best Regards,
Don Steve
for Bact Petroleum Oil Limited

Anti-fraud resources: