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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: "MR.ALEX MILLER" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <milleralex33@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2010 23:18:41 +0100
Subject: My Name is Alex Miller

My Name is Alex Miller , a personal Assistant to Mr. Mikhail Khodorkovsky -Chairman of YUKOS OIL, who is detained and now been tried in Russia for financing political parties and Tax evasion, which is not true. Two Parties -- the Union of Right Forces, led by Boris Nemtsov and the liberal/social Democratic Party, led by Greagor Yavlinsky, are the opposition to the Government of President Vladmir Putin, thereby leading to the freezing of his known Finances and Assets in Russia and some other countries. There has been a bulk freezing of Russian Bank Accounts linked to the Yukos Company and this is why foreign aid is required.

Presently, the Russian court has frozen Yukos assets due to an unpaid tax allegation in the year 2000 and this may force the company in to bankruptcy. Frankly, this is just an attempt by the Russian government to bring total destruction of Yukos and drain the personal wealth of Mr. Khodorkovsky.

Due to the above reason, fear of arrest has forced all the firm's top executives to remain outside Russia. My boss (Mr. Khodorkovsky ), has therefore instructed me in confidence to contact a reputable and capable individual who can assist us receive the sum of EIGHTY- MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLARS ($80MUSD), for safekeeping and subsequent investment. All matters will be handled amicably for the safety of this fund.

Therefore, I would like to ask for your assistance and partnership in re-profiling this fund considered to be large.
This is a desperate move to salvage his efforts and save his funds from the hands and prying eyes of his present Government.

All I need from you is your honest co-operation .I will bring you the full details when I got your response, which I presume will be positive to my anticipation.
I must not fail to tell you that the confidentiality of this transaction is of paramount importance and you will be rewarded with 25% of the total sum for your partnership.

Note that this must be concluded within a short time so please get back to me for further information and instructions
Thanks,

Alex Miller

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