joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
 Free trial for 30 days
   jwSpamSpy
Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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: Moyo Benaz <m_benaz_82@hotmail.fr>
Reply-To: <moyobenaz1@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 8 Nov 2007 06:03:05 +0100
Subject: IT WILL PLEASE ME TO HEAR FROM YOU



MINISTER OF FINANCE(MOF) OPERATIONAL TOWERS;8/10 CARRIER CRESCENT,COTONOU, BENIN REPUBLIC.

ATTN:Sir/ Madam.
I am Hon.Dr.Moyo Banez, minister of finance (M.A.R),I monitor offices and control the affairs of all banks and financial institutions in Benin republic concerning foreign contract payments.I am the final signatory to all foreign transfers of huge funds moving within banks both the local and international levels in line to foreign contracts settlement.I have before me the list of foreign contract payment files, which are due to be transferred to their nominated accounts.

Meanwhile,we identified some of these accounts to be ghost accounts,unclaimed deposits and over invoiced sum etc.I wish to have a deal with you as regards to the unpaid fund.I have a file before me and hope the data's are correct and un-tampered. As it is my duty to recommend the transfer of these surplus fund to the Federal Government

Treasury and Reserve Accounts as unclaimed deposit.
I have the opportunity to write you based on the instruction I received two days ago from the senate committee on contract payment/foreign debts to submit the list of payment reports/expenditures and audited reports of revenues.Among several others,I have decided to remit the total sum of USD$15.2 Million Dollars following the idea that we have a deal/agreement and I am going to perfect the paperwork legally.

MY CONDITIONS1)You will have to provide foreign account where the funds will be transferred. 2) This deal must be kept secret forever,and all correspondence will be strictly by private email /telephone for security purposes3) There should be no other third parties as most problems associated with such payments are caused by their agents or representatives.

I will advise you on the next line of action and immediately the funds transfer will commence without further delay as I would proceed to fix your name on the payment schedule instantly within the next 5 working days.

NOTE: DUE TO THE HIGH RATES OF INTERNET SCAMMERS, IF YOU ARE REPLYING TO THIS EMAIL,DO WRITE "YOUR BROTHER" AT THE SUBJECT OF YOUR REPLY ,THAT SERVES AS OUR SECRET CODE FOR THIS TRANSACTION,BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT YOU TO FALL VICTIM OF ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.

THANKS,YOURS FAITHFULLY HON: DR.MOYO BENAZ
_________________________________________________________________
Invite your mail contacts to join your friends list with Windows Live Spaces. It's easy!
http://spaces.live.com/spacesapi.aspx?wx_action=create&wx_url=/friends.aspx&mkt=en-us

Anti-fraud resources: