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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.Albert Williams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <auditorwilliams1@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 26 Nov 2010 17:17:14 +0530
Subject: REPLY WITH REQUESTED INFORMATION

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am Mr.Albert Williams, Chief Auditor Ministry of
Finance & Economie, Cotonou Benin Republic. I got your
information when I was searching for a reliable,honest
and trustworthy person to entrust this business with.I
was simply inspired and motivated to pick your contact
from the many names and lists in the web site.

I wish to transfer the sum of $14,300,000.00 USD
(Fourteen Million Three Hundred Thousand United States
Dollars only.into your personal or company`s bank
account. This fund was a residue of the over invoiced
Industrial Contract bills awarded by Ministry of
Finance & Economic, Cotonou Benin Republic to some
foreign Contractors.

This DEAL was deliberately hatched out and carefully
protected with all the attendant loope holes sealed
off. As the chief auditor,I have the cooperation and
mandate of the Financial Director and the Secretary.
It was my consensus to seek the assistance of a
willing foreigner to provide us with the facilities to
transfer this money out of West Africa.This is borne
out of our beleive in the non-stable and sporous
political nature of this sub-region.

The original contractors have been duely paid by the
Banque Centrale Des Etats De L`Afrique De L`Ouest
(Central Bank of the West African States) This balance
is suspended in the escrow accounts awaiting claims by
any foreign company of our choice.I intend to pay out
this fund now as the organization is winding up its
activities. Based on the laws and ethics of
employment,we as civil servants working under this
organization, are not allowed to operate a foreign
account.This is the more reason why we needed your
assistance to provide an account that can sustain this
fund for safe keeping and our future investment with
your comprehensive advise,assistance and partnership
in your country.

I have however agreed,as the account owner in this
deal to allow you 40% of the entire sum as
compensation,why 55% will be held on trust for me
while 5% will be used to defray any incidental charges
and cost if any. Upon the receipt of your information,
the certificate of job completion of one of the
contracts will be issued in your for the transfering
of the fund to your nominee account without delay.

As with the case of all organized (sensitive) and
conspired DEALS,we solicit for your unreserved
confidentiality and utmost secret in this business. We
hope to retire peacefully and lead a honorable
business life afterwords. There are no risks involved.
Reply immediately with these details information
below:

1. Your bank name and address
2. Your private and confidential telephone
3. Name to be used as beneficiary
4. Your bank Telephone and fax number
5. Your bank account number
6. Or you can within the shortest possible time,
confidentially open an entire new (Virgin) account for
this transaction. I would prefer this arrangement to
have a clear mind.

Yours Faithfully,
Mr.Albert Williams (Chief auditor).
Federal Ministry of Finance & Economic.
Address:34 Marvin Square Cotonou,
Benin Republic.
EMAIL: auditorwilliams1@gmail.com






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