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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: Barrister Chris Williams <chris_williams_001@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <chriswilliams_003@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2007 06:03:21 -0600
Subject: PRIVATE/CONFIDENTIAL; URGENT RESPONSE NEEDED



PRIVATE/CONFIDENTIAL Dear Sir josiah, I fervently pray that this letter soliciting for your kind assistance will not cause any embarrassment to you.I am aware that we have never seen each other before,neither have we exchanged any form of formal contract or correspondence before. I am equally aware that this world is full of dishonest people but I sincerely hope that my humble letter will touch your kind heart to assist us and give us the opportunity of being future inseparable. I am Christ Williams-the Chairman of ECOWAS contract awarding committee in Ecowas sub-regional headquarters in West Africa.With due respect and regard,I have decided to contact you on a business transaction that will be very beneficial to both of us at the end of the transaction.During our investigation and auditing in my department,we discovered a huge sum of money that was over-invoiced amounting to Fifteen Million United States Dollars (US$15,000,000.00) and unrecorded for in the books of Accounts.We discovered that it has been floating since 1998 through 2004 in Ecobank of Africa lagos Nigeria. Personally,the information is kept secret by me and my partner to enable the whole plan and ideas profitable and successful during the time of execution. As it may interest you to know,I got your contact through business enquiries as I was making contact for an honest foreigner who will assist me in this transaction.Meanwhile the whole arrangements to put claim over this fund,as a payment of contract executed since it cannot be withdrawn locally and get the required approval and transfer this money to a foreign account has been put in place and directives and needed information will be relayed to you as soon as you indicate your interest and willingness to assits us and also benefit yourself in this great business opportunity. In fact I could have done this alone but because of my position in this country as a civil servant we are not allowed to operate a foreign account and would eventually raise an eyebrow on my side during the time of transfer.This is the actual reason why it will require a second party or fellow,who will forward claim as the contractor and also present a foreign account where the money would be tranferred to as a payment for contract executed as it may be after due verification by designated board. I would not fail to inform you that this transaction is 100% risk-free. On smooth conclussion of this transaction,you would be entitlled to 30% as gratification,while 10% will be set aside to take care of expenses that may arise during the time of transfer and also telephone bills,while 60% will be for me and my partners.Please,you have been advised to keep this top-secret as we are still in service and intend to retire from service after we conclude this deal with you. I will be monitoring the whole situation here until you confirm the money in your account,and ask us to come down to your country for subsequent sharing according to percentages. All other necessary information will be sent to you when I hear from you. I suggest you get back to me as soon as possible stating your wish and interest in this deal.You can also email me via my alternative email ( chriswilliams_003@yahoo.com) Yours Faithfully, CHRIS WILLIAMS
_________________________________________________________________
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