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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: "Sir. Jude Afam" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jjudeafam@i12.com>
Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2010 23:33:55 +0100
Subject: Joint Business

From the Desk of: Sir. Jude Afam
Director,
Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources
 
Attn: Sir/Madam
It is with trust and confidence that I make this urgent and important business proposal to you. I am a Director with the Presidency, Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources Nigeria. I have been assigned by my colleagues to seek a foreign partner in the transfer of the sum of US$4,500.000 (Four Million Five Hundred United States Dollars) only. This money arose from a deliberate over - invoicing of a contract and supply of Drilling Equipment / Earth Moving Equipments awarded by our corporation in 2009.
We have been safeguarding this money since then, waiting an appropriate time when the money can be transferred into a foreign nominated bank, pending our arrival for the sharing and utilization with the owner of the account. Now the new civilian government of president Umar Musa Yar'adua has ordered that all debts owed foreign contractors by the government be paid immediately, on the strength of this order, we wish to take advantage of it to present you or your company as the beneficiary of this fund valued US$4.5 Million.
Meanwhile, we have agreed that the money will be shared thus: 60% will be for us (my colleagues and I), 35% will be for you for collaborating and providing the necessary assistance while the remaining 5% has been mapped out for any incidental expenses that might be incurred in the course of this transaction.
Note, that the nature of your company's business is irrelevant to this transaction as all arrangements have been concluded for a successful and hitch- free transaction. You are required to forward the following information if you accept to assist:
(1) Your full name.
(2) Your company name
(3) Your Contact or Company Address
(4) Your Mobile phone Number
 
We have taken measures to ensure that this is executed in a legitimate arrangement. The supply and the contract amounted to over US$450M and if this US$4.5 Million is received by you as a co-contractor, it will give you the opportunity to work with the Federal Government of Nigeria once there is an opportunity for any contract or supply to the ministry which we shall personally facilitate in your favor.
This information is highly confidential and urgent. Further detail will be communicated to you as soon as I receive your acceptance response.
Best regards.
Sir. Jude Afam.
Director, Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources
Federal Republic of Nigeria.

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