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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: "Elvis Mark" <elvismark05523@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: mrelvis_mark02@safe-mail.net
Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2007 09:41:34 -0700
Subject: REQUEST FOR URGENT BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP -STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL

From The Desk of
Mr. Elvis Mark.
NNPC Towers, Ikoyi,
Lagos-Nigeria
 
Hello Friend,
 
REQUEST FOR URGENT BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP -STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL

 
Firstly, I must solicit your confidentiality. This is by virtue of its nature as being utterly "CONFIDENTIAL" and "TOP SECRET". Though I know that a transaction of this magnitude will make anyone apprehensive and worried, but I am assuring you that all will be well at the end of the day. A bold step taken shall not be regretted I assure you. 

I am Mr. Elvis Mark. I head a seven man tender board in charge of contract awards and payment approvals. I came to know of you in my search for a reliable and reputable person to handle a very confidential business transaction, which involves the transfer of a huge sum of money to a foreign account requiring maximum confidence.
 
My colleagues and I are top officials of Federal Government Contract Review and Award Panel. Our duties include evaluation, vetting, and approval for payment of contract jobs done for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). We are therefore soliciting for your assistance to enable us transfer into your bank account the said funds. The source of the fund is as follow: During the last military regime here in Nigeria, this committee awarded a contract of US$400 Million to a group of five construction firms on behalf of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for the maintenance and installation of turn-around equipments in the Port Harcourt and Warri Refineries.
 
During this process my colleagues and I decided among us to deliberately over inflate the total contract sum of US$435 Million with the aim of sharing the remaining sum of US$35 million. The government has since approved the sum of US$435Million for us as the contract sum, but since the contract is only worth US$400M the remaining US$35Million is what we intend to transfer to a reliable and safe offshore account, we are prohibited to operate foreign account in our names since we are still in Government. Thus, making it impossible for us to acquire the money in our name right now, I have therefore been delegated as a matter of trust by my colleagues to look for an oversea partner into whose account we can transfer the sum of US$35Million.
 
My colleagues and I have decided that if you/your Company can act as the beneficiary of this funds on our behalf, you or your company will retain 20% of the total amount (US$35Million) while 75% will be for us, (officials) and the remaining 5% will be used in offsetting all debts/expenses incurred by us during this transfer. We have decided that this transaction can only proceed under the following condition:
 
(a) Our conviction of your transparent honesty and above all that you treat this transaction with utmost secrecy and confidentiality.
 
(b) That upon Receipt of the funds you will release the funds as instructed by us after you've removed your share of 20%. 
 
(c) That you will provide a foreign account where the funds will be transfered and also assist in transfering the said fund.

 
Please acknowledge the receipt of this letter using the bellow e-mail address and I will bring you into the complete of this transaction when I've heard from you.
 
Your urgent response will be highly appreciated so as to enable us start the proccessing and procurement of all the LEGAL DOCUMENTS in your name and favor. Please do be informed that his business transaction is 100% legal and completely free from drug or money laundering and it is only trust can make the reality of this transaction.
 
Hoping to hear from you as soon as possible
 
Yours Sincerely,
 
Mr. Elvis Mark.
 
NB: Please do not expose this proposal whatever your response is and kindly reply to elvismark068@yahoo.co.uk


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