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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: "mr_hassan" <mr_hassan@terra.com.mx>
Date: Sat, 22 Jul 2006 08:18:38 -0600
Subject: RE CAN WE??


CONFIDENTIAL AND URGENT,

I AM MR.HASAN MALIK,MEMBER OF THE NEWLY SET UP PANEL
CALLED FORIEGNCONTRACTOR PAYMENT HOUSE (F.C.P.C) I
USE TO WORK UNDER THE FEDERALMINISTRY OF
HOUSING/WORKS BEFORE I WAS APPOINTED MEMBER AND HEAD
OFTHE ABOVE-MENTIONED COMMITTEE.THE COMMITTEE WAS
SET UP AND INAUGURATED BY MR. PRESIDENT CAUSE HE WAS
MANDATED BY WORLD BANK SWITZERLAND TO MAKE SURE ALL
FOREIGN CONTRACTORS WHO DID EXECUTE THEIR CONTRACT
DURING THE MILITARY ERA IN FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF
NIGERIA ARE PAID. THIS WAS CONDITION TO MR.
PRESIDENT BEFORE THE PARIS CLUB COULD AGREE TO OUR
COUNTRY IS JUST SIGNED DEBT RELIEF.

IN BRIEF, THERE IS AN OVER-INVOICED CONTRACT SUM OF
US$17,500,000.00 (SEVENTEEN MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED
THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY) AWAITING
PAYMENT TO A FOREIGN CONTRACTOR. I INFLATED THE
ORIGINAL CONTRACT SUM TO MAKE THIS DIFFERENCE,
WHICH THE ORIGINAL CONTRACTOR HAS BEEN PAID UPON
LAST WEEK LEAVING THIS AMOUNT, WHICH MY COLLEAGUES
AND I HAVE WORKED OUT PERFECT MODALITIES TO
TRANSFER INTO YOUR ACCOUNT WITHOUT ANY IMPENDING
RISK. THIS US$17.5M IS NOW WAITING TO BE TRANSFERRED
TO THE SUB-CONTRACTOR WHICH I WILL NOW PURPORT YOUR
COMPANY TO BE SO THAT YOU CAN RECEIVE THE MONEY ON
OUR BEHALF.YOUR AREA OF SPECIALTY DOES NOT MATTER,
AS WE SHALL PRESENT YOU AS THE SUB-CONTRACTOR TO THE
ORIGINAL WHO EXECUTED THE CONTRACT.

HENCE YOU HAVE RENDERED THIS ASSISTANCE IN GOOD
FAITH TO A SUCCESS, WE WILL OFFER YOU 30% WHILE 60%
WILL BE FOR ME AND MY COLLEAGUE, 10% WILL BE SET
ASIDE FOR RE IMBURSEMENT OF THE EXPENSES INCURRED ON
BOTH SIDES ACCORDING TO THE PERCENTAGE INPUT.WE NEED
YOUR URGENT RESPONSE TO THIS CONFIDENTIAL LETTER, SO
SEND ME AN EMAIL OR FAX LETTER BEFORE WE OPEN UP A
MORE CORPORATE COMMUNICATION.

BEFORE WE EMBARK ON THIS HUGE TRANSACTION; WE NEED
TO REACH AN AGREEMENT OF NON-CIRCUMVENTION,NON-DISCLOSURE.

ANTICIPATING YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE
AND MAY GOD BLESS US.

NO SIGNATURE ATTACHED UNTIL WE AGREE TO GO INTO THIS
PARTNERSHIP.

SINCERELY
HASAN MALIK.

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