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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: "bellodruk" <bellodruk@terra.com.mx>
Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2006 19:26:06 -0600
Subject: DEAR FRIEND.


DEAR FRIEND,
I AM SENDING THIS MAIL TO YOU BASED ON INFORMATION I GATHERED THROUGH MY PERSONAL RESEARCH.I MUST APOLOGISE FOR USING THIS MEDIUM TO REACH YOU AT THIS VERY POINT. PLEASE PARDON MY MEANS OF CONTACTING YOU.

I AM THE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBER OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE FOR BUDGET AND PLANNING FROM THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM, THIS COMMITTEE IS PRINCIPALLY CONCERNED WITH CONTRACT APPRAISALS AND APPROVAL OF CONTRACTS IN ORDER OF PRIORITIES AS REGARDS CAPITAL PROJECT OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF MY COUNTRY.
WE SUCCESSFULLY OVER INVOICED THE SUM OF TWENTHY ONE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($21.5M) DURING THE PROCESS OF " OPERATION CLEAR THE FEDERAL DEBTS" AS IT WAS TARGED. THE PAYNMENT WAS MAINLY FOR THE FOREIGN CONTRACTORS WHO EXECUTED CONTRACT WITH OUR GOVERNMENT IN THE PAST AND HAVE NOT HAD THIER FULL PAYMENT MADE. IN RESPECT TO THIS,WE NEED YOUR ASSISTANT TO HELP US SECURE THIS FUNDS IN YOUR POSSENSION AS IT WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO YOU SINCE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS HERE ARE NOT ALLOWED JUDICIALY TO OPERATE FOREIGN ACCOUNT.
WE HAVE AGREED THAT YOU WILL BE COMPENSATED WITH US$2 MILLION OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT AS THE PERSON THAT ASSIST US SECURE THE FUND, US$17 MILLION WILL BE USED FOR ANY INVESTMENT UNDER YOUR SUPERVISION IN YOUR COUNTRY AND ANOTHER US$2 WILL BE DONATED TO CHARITIES AND THE REMAINING PORTION SHOULD BE SET ASIDE FOR INCASE ANY EXPENSES IS INCURED UPON THE TRANSACTION.

FOR YOUR INFORMAION, TWO YEARS AGO WE CARRIED OUT A SIMILAR TRANSACTION WITH ONE MR. PATRICE MILLER, THE PRESIDENT OF CRAINE INTERNATIONAL TRADING CORPORATION AT NUMBER 135,EAST 57TH STREET, 28TH FLOOR, NEW YORK. 10022. WE BOTH AGEERED HE WILL BE COMPENSATED WITH 5% OF THE TOTAL MONEY. THE MONEY WAS DULY TRANSFERRED INTO HIS ACCOUNT ONLY TO BE DISAPPOINTED ON OUR ARRIVAL IN NEW YORK. WE WERE RELIABLY INFORMED THAT MR. PATRICE MILLER WAS NO LONGER ON THAT ADDRESS.AND THAT IS HOW WE LOST US$5.5M TO MR PATRICE MILLER.
THIS TIME AROUND WE NEED A MORE RELIABLE AND TRUSTWORTHY PERSON OR A REPUTABLE COMPANY TO DO BUSINESS WITH. HENCE WE SOLICITE YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THIS REGARD, SO IF YOU CAN PROVE YOURSELF TO BE TRUSTWORTHY AND INTERESTED IN THIS DEAL THEN WE ARE PREPARED TO DO BUSINESS WITH YOU. WE ONLY WANT YOUR REALIBILITY AND TOTAL COMMITMENT IN THIS TRANSACTION. AND PROMISE US WE WILL HAVE OUR SHARE WHEN THIS AMOUNT OF US$21.5M IS TRANSFERRED INTO YOUR ACCOUNT.

IF THIS PROPOSAL SATISFIES YOU, PLEASE EMAIL, ONLY YOUR RESPONSE TO US SO WE CAN ADVICE YOU ON THE MODALITIES OF THE TRANSACTION.ALL MODALITIES OF THE TRANSFER HAVE BEEN WORKED OUT AND ONCE STARTED WILL NOT TAKE MORE THAN 14 WORKING DAYS WITH THE ABSOLUTE SUPPORT OF ALL CONCERNED. THIS TRANSACTION IS 100% SAFE AND RISK FREE.
PLEASE IF YOU HAVE ANY FUTHER QUESTION FEEL FREE TO ASK,WE WILL AWNSER YOU.

GOD BE WITH YOU AS I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU.
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
DR UK BELLO.

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