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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: "drphilip owen" <drphilipowen1@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: drphilipowen1@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 00:38:18 +0000
Subject: OVERDUE INHERITANCE

FROM THE DESK OF
DR PHILIP OWEN,

E-MAIL :drphilipowen1@yahoo.co.uk

GOOD DAY,

REQUEST ASSISTANCE/PARTNERSHIP IN A TRANSFER.

I AM AN ACCOUNTANT AND ALSO A MEMBER OF A CONTRACT AWARD AND REVIEW
COMMITTEE. A CONTRACT ALREADY EXECUTED BY A FOREIGN FIRM UNITED KINGDOM
{U.K.}. IN 2004 WAS OVER-INVOICED BY US TO THE TUNE OF EIGHTEEN MILLION FIVE
HUNDRED THOUSAND BRITISH POUNDS ONLY. G.T.B.18.5M IN THE LIGHT OF THE ABOVE,

I ASKED YOU FOR ASSISTANCE IN THE TRANSFER OF THE EXCESS
FLOATING IN A SUSPENCE ACCOUNT INTO A FOREIGN ACCOUNT YOU MAY WISH TO
PROVIDE, FOR IT WAS A CATEGORY "A" CONTRACT, (STRICTLY RESERVED FOR A
FOREIGN CONTRACTORS) THIS INFORM MY REQUEST, AND ALSO THAT I AM FORBIDDEN BY
MY GOVERNMENT TO RUN ANY FOREIGN ACCOUNT.

AFTER THE SUCCESSFUL TRANSFER, 30% OF THE TOTAL SUM WILL GO TO YOU FOR YOUR
ASSISTANCE. 10% OF THE TOTAL SUM TO COMPENSATE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL EXPENSES
INCURED BY BOTH PARTIES.

MORE DETAILS WILL BE GIVEN IN THE COURSE OF CORRESPONDENCE.YOUR
CONFIDENTIALITY IS HIGLY REQUIRED SINCE I AM STILL IN ACTIVE SERVICE.
THANK YOU. FOR YOUR ANTICIPATED CORPORATION.

REGARDS,

DR PHILIP OWEN (FSS, CFR)
FROM THE DESK OF
DR PHILIP OWEN,

E-MAIL :drphilipowen1@yahoo.co.uk

GOOD DAY,

REQUEST ASSISTANCE/PARTNERSHIP IN A TRANSFER.

I AM AN ACCOUNTANT AND ALSO A MEMBER OF A CONTRACT AWARD AND REVIEW
COMMITTEE. A CONTRACT ALREADY EXECUTED BY A FOREIGN FIRM UNITED KINGDOM
{U.K.}. IN 2004 WAS OVER-INVOICED BY US TO THE TUNE OF EIGHTEEN MILLION FIVE
HUNDRED THOUSAND BRITISH POUNDS ONLY. G.T.B.18.5M IN THE LIGHT OF THE ABOVE,

I ASKED YOU FOR ASSISTANCE IN THE TRANSFER OF THE EXCESS
FLOATING IN A SUSPENCE ACCOUNT INTO A FOREIGN ACCOUNT YOU MAY WISH TO
PROVIDE, FOR IT WAS A CATEGORY "A" CONTRACT, (STRICTLY RESERVED FOR A
FOREIGN CONTRACTORS) THIS INFORM MY REQUEST, AND ALSO THAT I AM FORBIDDEN BY
MY GOVERNMENT TO RUN ANY FOREIGN ACCOUNT.

AFTER THE SUCCESSFUL TRANSFER, 30% OF THE TOTAL SUM WILL GO TO YOU FOR YOUR
ASSISTANCE. 10% OF THE TOTAL SUM TO COMPENSATE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL EXPENSES
INCURED BY BOTH PARTIES.

MORE DETAILS WILL BE GIVEN IN THE COURSE OF CORRESPONDENCE.YOUR
CONFIDENTIALITY IS HIGLY REQUIRED SINCE I AM STILL IN ACTIVE SERVICE.
THANK YOU. FOR YOUR ANTICIPATED CORPORATION.

REGARDS,

DR PHILIP OWEN (FSS, CFR)

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