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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: "Economic and Financial Crimes Commission" <efcc.ng@hotmail.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 15 Jul 2006 11:55:06 +0100
Subject: RE: RELEASE OF YOUR OVERDUE PAYMENT (US$30MILLION)

The EFCC419
100 IBB Way Wuse
Abuja-Nigeria
Phone +234 806421 7824
 
 
ATTN: Sir / Madam
 
RE: RELEASE OF YOUR OVERDUE PAYMENT (US$30MILLION)
Following the recent broadcast of the president and the commander in chief of armed forces of the federal republic of Nigeria during the visit to the America President Mr. George W. Bush, his speech to the united nation, couple with recommendation and resolution of his last visit to South Africa, British, France and the UNGA United Nations General Assembly in New York), a total sum of $2.8 Billion has been mapped out by the SENATE to settle all outstanding foreign debts owned to contractor this year. It has therefore become imperative for us to explore our options for reducing our debt servicing policy to affordable and sustainable levels. On the order of the president as a mark of his reconciliation and image laundering exercise toward sanitizing the battered image of the federal republic of Nigeria abroad.
 
I am Nuhu Ribadu Chairman Economic And Financial Crime Commission, a committee set up by the Federal Government of Nigeria under the able President Olusegun Obasanjo. The purpose of the committee among other is to investigate, verify and settle all outstanding debts owed to foreign contractors whose payment is overdue. During the last military dictatorship of Late General Sani Abacha, many abnormalities had happened in the Central Bank of Nigeria where some top official of the apex Bank collaborate with imposters and abandon our contractor half way with levies and taxes.
 
Consequently, we received a directive from the office of the president, ordering the above office to settle all genuine contractors whose debts has been outstanding for a long time now. These are those who has shown sufficient proof regarding the release of their fund, And we wish to inform you that in our record here, you have fulfilled such conditions.

But the reasons why your own Transfer has to be delayed is because, there is presently a counter claims on your funds by one Mr. Peter Woo, who is presently trying to make us believe that you entered into an agreement with him, to help you in receiving your fund, in his bank account in China. So here comes the big question. Did you sign any Deed of Assignment in favor of Mr. Peter Woo, thereby making him the current beneficiary with the

If you did not sign, nor authorize Mr. Peter Woo to receive your payment on your behalf, kindly reconfirm to us, your genuine bank account details, to avoid making payment to a wrong person, attempt to divert your payment to a new account without your knowledge may have been done by your local representative with the assistance of some (CBN) Officials, of whom most of them are presently under our custody and will face prosecution under section 35A sub section 1-2-4 of the criminal code of Nigeria, pending on when we finish with our investigation. This office is glad to inform you that your payment shall be made as soon as this information needed from you is submitted, either by telegraphic transfer or by international Certified Bank Draft.
 
We are sorry to inform you that the Federal Government of Nigeria had made it clear to all foreign contractors whose payment is overdue, to be paid immediately hence all the modality relating to the release of your contract fund had been completed. You are advised to stop any further communication with your local representative(s) any officials (s) department of the CBN or any Government parastatal. This is to forestall new effort towards a diversion of your payment.

This office supersedes every other department in the CBN and is thus responsible for the final payment. The consequences of not heeding to this warning would be yours. Please forward you re banking particulars and contract sum to this office immediately for action.

Considering the circumstances at hand, you are advice not to accept any fax or telephone calls that does not come from this office. Call me immediately you receive this message for more information.

Best regards,
 

NUHU RIBADU
CHAIRMAN ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIME COMMISSION
 
 
 
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