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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: Usman Bello <u_bello003@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 17:21:18 +0100
Subject: YOUR URGENT REPLY!!!



From the desk of: DR USMAN BELLO B,sc(UNN)M.sc Ph.D.MANAGER 11,BUDGET AND PLANNINGTHE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUMLAGOSusmanbello1966@indiatimes.com

THE PRESIDENT/CEODEAR SIR,WE ARE SENDING THIS MAIL TO YOU BASED ON INFORMATION GATHERED FROM THE FORIEGN TRADE OFFICE OF THE NIGERIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY.WE ARE MEMBERS OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE FOR BUDGET AND PLANNING OF THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM,THIS COMMITTEE IS PRINCIPALLY CONCERNED WITH CONTRACT APPRAISALS AND APPROVAL OF CONTRACTS IN ORDER OF PRIORITIES AS REGARDS CAPITEL PROJECT OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA.WITH OUR POSITIONS,WE HAVE SUCCESSFULY SECURED FOR OURSELVES THE SUM OF FORTY-ONE MILLION,FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS.THIS AMOUNT WAS ACCUMULATED THROUGH UNDECLARED WINDFALL FROM SALES OF CRUDE OIL DURING THE GULF WAR.WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU IS TO PROVIDE A SAFE ACCOUNT INTO WHICH THE FUNDS WILL BE TRANSFERED SINCE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ARE NOT ALLOWED BY OUR LAWS TO OPERATE FOREIGN ACCOUNT .IT HAS BEEN AGREED THAT US$8.3 MILLION WILL BE YOUR SHARE AS THE ACCOUNT OWNER,WHILEUS$2.075 MILLION HAS BEEN SET ASIDE TO OFFSET EXPENSES INCURED FROM BOTH ENDS.IT MAY INTEREST YOU TO KNOW THAT TWO YEARS AGO A SIMILAR TRANSACTION WAS CARRIED OUT WITH ONE MR PATRICE MILLER.THE PRESIDENT OF CRAINE INTERNATIONAL TRADEING CORPORATION.THE AGREEMENT WAS THAT HIS SHARE WILL BE 5% AND THE MONEY WAS DULY TRANSFERRED INTO HIS ACCOUNT ONLY TO BE DISAPPOINTED ON OUR ARRIVAL IN NEW YORK AS MR PATRICE MILLER WAS NO WHERE TO BE FOUND.THIS TIME WE NEED A RELIABLE AND TRUSTWORTHY PERSON OR COMPANY TO DO BUSINESS WITH,HENCE WE ARE ASKING FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE .IF THIS PROPOSAL SATISFIES YOU,EMAIL YOUR RESPONSE TO THE EMAIL ADDRESS BELOW AND BE INFORMED THAT THIS TRANSACTION WILL TAKE US NOT MORE THAN 10 TO 14 WORKING DAYS WITH THE ABSOLUTE CO-OPERATION OF ALL CONCERNEDPLEASE TREAT AS URGENT AND VERY CONFIDENTIAL . YOURS FAITHFULLY,DR USMAN BELLOusmanbello1966@indiatimes.com
_________________________________________________________________
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