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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: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: Frank K Andrews <enquiries_2@azet.sk>
Date: Sun, 5 Jun 2011 12:32:17 -0300 (GMT-03:00)
Subject: Attn: This email address owner


From: Frank K Andrews (Mr.)
Director, Project Implementation,
Federal Ministry of Works & Housing,
Abuja.




Dear Sir/Madam,


It is my great pleasure in writing you this letter on behalf of my colleagues
and myself. I got your particulars from a member of the Nigerian
Investment Promotion Council (NIPC) who was at the Federal Government Delegation
to your country during a trade exhibition. I have decided to seek your
assistance for the actualization of the project described below:

DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT: I am the Director, Project Implementation with the
Federal Ministry of Works & Housing (FMW&H). With the cooperation of
four other top officials, we have in our possessions, as overdue payment bills
totalling Thirteen Million, Seven Hundred and Thirty One Thousand US Dollars
(U$13,731,000.00), which we want to lodge into an account abroad. To do this, we
will need your cooperation as a foreigner who could front to receive the fund on
our behalf.

SOURCE OF FUND: The amount represents a percentage of the total contract
value
executed on behalf of my ministry by a foreign contracting firm which we
over-invoiced. Though the actual contract value has been paid to the original
contractor, leaving a balance to the tune of the amount aforementioned, which we
have in principle secured approval to remit by telegraphic transfer (T.T) to any
bank account, you will provide.

PROCEDURE: Since the present government of Nigeria is determined to pay every
foreign contractor all debts owed so as to maintain good relationship with
foreign governments and non-governmental financial agencies, we have decided to
include our bills for approval with the cooperation of some officials from the
relevant government establishments. We are seeking your assistance in providing
a good company’s account or any other offshore bank account into which we can
remit this money by acting as our main partner and trustee or acting as the
original contractor. This will involve the swapping of account; changing
of
beneficiary name; and other forms of documentation.

I have the authority of my partners to propose that should you be willing to
assist us in the project transaction your share of the sum will be 20% of the
U$13.731,000.00 Million, 70% for us and 10% for taxation and miscellaneous
expenses.

I have reposed confidence in you and hope that you will not disappoint me.
Please all subsequent communication should be via my email for now
Thank you for your cooperation.

Yours Sincerely,

Frank K Andrews

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