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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: "George Martins" <georgemartins_21@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: george_martins53@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 05 Oct 2006 09:12:35 -0400
Subject: From George Martins, (PLEASE I NEED YOUR URGENT ASSISTANCE).

DEAR FRIEND,

I AM MR. GEORGE MARTINS, CHIEF AUDITOR, AUDIT DEPARTMENT OF FUND RELEASE
ORDER IN CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA, I KNOW THE LETTER MIGHT COME TO YOU AS
SURPRISE, BUT TAKE IT LIKE YOUR OWN DEAL. MR. HARRY SMITH, FROM UNITED STATE
OF AMERICA (USA) EXECUTED CONTRACT THROUGH FEDERAL MINISTRY OF AVIATION HERE
IN NIGERIA, THE CONTRACT WORTH OF (US $13, 500,000) BUT ON THE PROCESS OF
TRANSFERRING THE MONEY TO HIM, HE DIED WITH HIS FAMILY IN EARTHQUAKE
DISASTER THAT OCCURRED IN GEORGIA (USSR). MEANWHILE, HIS MONEY HAS TO BE
SIGNED IN MY OFFICE BEFORE I WILL GIVE ORDER TO THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
FOR FINAL ENDORSEMENT OF HIS MONEY. NOBODY KNOWS WHAT IS GOING ON EXCEPT I
AND TWO OF MY WORKERS HERE IN THE BANK, THIS IS THE MAN'S INFORMATIONS:

(1) CONTRACT SUM:US $13, 500,000

(2) CONTRACT NUMBER: FMA/CBN/FGN/3-X. 99/2000.

YOU WILL ACT LIKE THE BENEFICIARY OF THIS FUND, I WILL SEND TO YOU THE WHOLE
RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT REQUIRED IN THIS TRANSACTION IMMEDIATELY YOU ACCEPT
TO CO-OPERATE WITH ME. SEND TO ME:-

1. YOUR PRIVATE PHONE AND FAX NUMBERS

2. YOUR ADDRESS OR NAME OF YOUR COMPANY TO ENABLE US TO START THE DEAL
IMMEDIATELY, I HAVE DECIDED TO GIVE YOU 20% OF THIS MONEY AND THIS HAS 100%
NO RISK.

I'M GOING ON RETIREMENT VERY SOON, SO I NEED THIS MONEY TO TAKE CARE OF MY
FAMILY IN FUTURE IN AREAS OF INVESTMENT IN YOUR COUNTRY.

YOURS TRULY,
MR.GEORGE MARTINS.

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