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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: "USMAN YUSUF" <usmanyusuf1@blumail.org>
Reply-To: usman_yusufcbn@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:30:51 +0800
Subject: RE: UNPAID CONTRACT SUM- WHY YOU HAVE NOT SUCCEEDED.

CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
CONTRACT PAYMENT & PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT TINUBU SQUARE, LAGOS
Tel: 234-70-51513461
>From the Desk Of Mr Usman Yusuf
E-mail: usman_yusufcbn@yahoo.com

SERIOUS TALK
Attn: The Beneficiary/Contractor,


RE: UNPAID CONTRACT SUM- WHY YOU HAVE NOT SUCCEEDED.

After waiting to hear from you or your Nigerian partners for a long time
now, I decided to make this direct approach to you in other not to let it be
as if I have anything in mind against you. I do not know if you have asked
yourself why each time the release of this fund is approved, all of a
sudden, the payment will be stopped or one problem or the other will come
up. If you have not asked this question or you do not know, this is an
opportunity for me to tell you.

Some time ago, your Nigerian friend, I mean the people that introduced you
to the project approached me through my dear wife who works with the Federal
Ministry of Finance and requested me to assist them conclude a money
transfer deal they had with you, they requested me to assist them by
removing the original contractor’s name, company’s name and bank particulars
from Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Vetting computer and replacing them with
your name and your bank details in order to make you appear as the rightful
beneficiary of this funds. I agreed on condition that they will pay me
US$300,000 as soon as your name appears as the beneficiary. I did as agreed
and demanded to be paid but your friends started telling me stories. They
even told me that you promised to send money to me. Do you know that up till
now, I have not received a single cent from them and have not set my eyes on
any of them?

Based on their attitude, I decided to stop the funds release movement
because I cannot be denied of my right in my own office considering the risk
as it might affect my job. Secondly, I know the source of the funds that you
did not execute any contract in Nigeria, although I am the only person
privileged to know this information and it is a fact. Why I am making this
clear to you is that I can see that you are still making efforts in order to
conclude this project. Now I am ready to forget the past. I do not need the
US$300,000 any longer from you but a good compensation form your mind. I
need your assurance that those colleagues will be totally kept out of this
transaction. I know that none of them is aware of my new approach to you.
Stop spending your money unnecessarily to CBN officers both here and
overseas because you will not receive this money without my hand in it. I
personally did the work at the beginning and only me can perform it. The
secret is that your partners failed to stamp your contract
dutydocuments/claim.

Finally, I need your promise that no official of the Central Bank of Nigeria
will be aware of my involvement in this regard because of my position. Now
re-assure that you will be willing to compensate me. That you will assist my
wife to establish a foreign account in your country where my compensation
will be lodged. Also a KTT FUND RELEASE APPROVAL DOCUMENTS ATTACH will be
sent to you for endorsement after which I will remit the fund to you within
48hours. I am a man of my words, if you are ready to conclude this business
with me, kindly contact me on my direct mobile phone: 234-70-51513461 or
usman_yusufcbn@yahoo.com so that we can have a chat over this issue once and
for all. But if the reverse is the case, do not bother yourself to reach me
and forget about this money.
Accept my best wishes,
Mr Usman Yusuf

Director, Foreign Payment Monitoring/Telegraphic Transfers.
NOTE:- AS SOON AS YOU GET THIS EMAIL YOU CALL ME ON MY NUMBER 234-70-
51513461 FOR VERBAL DIRECTIVES

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