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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: "Mr. Timothy Harris" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <irdi33@sify.com>
Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 22:07:44 +0100
Subject: Investment of $20.5 Million.

Dear Sir,
 
I know that this letter would come to you as a surprise but kindly read diligently and offer utmost consideration.
 
By way of Introduction, I am Mr. Timothy Harris, age 42 years from United Kingdom with International passport number: 020022453. I am serving with the British Army in the administrative capacity in Basra Iraq and while in Iraq in December 2007, without the knowledge of the Iraqi government, we facilitated a business deal with some senior officers from the US Army which resulted in the sales of Iraqi crude oil to some buyer from Ukrain who paid in cash.
 
My share from the crude oil sales came to $20.5 Million USD and there was no way I could have transferred this money via bank to bank out from Iraq due the Iraq government would question the source of the money. As a result of the set back in the Iraqi banking system, I safely packed this money into a metallic trunk box and transferred via International Diplomatic Courier Service (an affiliate of the United Nations) from Iraq to Europe.
 
I am still a civil servant with the UK government and it is impossible for me to bring this money $20.5 Million USD into United Kingdom myself because I would be asked to defend the source of the money. The UK government will know that I did not earn this money $20.5 Million legitimately as my salaries are paid by my employer (UK government) for the past 22 Years.
 
To keep the money $20.5 Million away from UK government, I had to deposit the trunk box with the storage warehouse in Europe as belonging to my Foreign Partner (name withheld). I need a partner who can proceed to Europe to collect this trunk box and place the money $20.5 Million into an Investment Programme.
 
If you are willing & capable to handle such then I need you to furnish me with the following details:-
 
1. YOUR FULL NAMES
2. YOUR CONTACT ADDRESS
3. YOUR DIRECT TELEPHONE NUMBERS
4. A COPY OF YOUR INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT.
 
I need to forward the above details to the delivery/cargo officer in Europe along with a Letter of Acknowledgement stating that you are the Foreign Partner/Beneficiary of trunk box to facilitate the release to you.
 
You have to bear in mind that the contents of the trunk box is unknown to any person including the storage warehouse as I declared contents of the box as being Family Utilities which was accepted for deposit & storage under diplomatic immunity.
 
I shall give you further details upon receipt of your positive reply. You can reach me on my direct phone number: +44 703 1922835 which is active here in Iraq.
 
I await your positive reply.
 
Yours faithfully,
 
 
Mr. Timothy Harris
 

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