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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: "nnpc info" <usbello3@me.by>
Reply-To: usbello1966@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 3 Jun 2008 11:25:18 +0100
Subject: YOUR URGENT ASSISTANCE


>From the desk of: DR USMAN BELLO B,sc(UNN)M.sc Ph.D.
MANAGER 11,BUDGET AND PLANNING
THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM
LAGOS
usmanbello1966@indiatimes.com

THE PRESIDENT/CEO
DEAR 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 CONCERNED
PLEASE TREAT AS URGENT AND VERY CONFIDENTIAL .
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
DR USMAN BELLO
usmanbello1966@indiatimes.com

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