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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: "FRANK RICHARDSON" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <frank_rich@consultant.com>
Date: Sat, 17 Sep 2011 19:06:31 -0800
Subject: FROM MR.FRANK RICHARDSON

Dear Friend,
 
 
 
Urgent Business Negotiation
 
 
After going through your profile, I decided to contact  you for this mutual benefit. I am a business consultant based here in United  Kingdom and there is this government official from Africa who confided in me of  having diverted and kept the sum of $16.5M in a secret account which I will let you knows its location as we progress.
 
 
His intention is to move the fund out of  Africa using a reliable foreign partner in your country who will receive it on his behalf and proceed to investing the money into any viable business. Hence I contacted you.
 
 
As you may have known that, a transaction of this magnitude requires one with good financial standing and this is the reason why i am looking for a reliable, honest and sincere person that would accommodate this incoming fund based on trust. If you are capable and can as well handle this transaction with me at the mutual benefit of myself, my client and you as the custodian of the fund. I want to inform you also that you are going to invest this fund in your country in any profitable venture pending the time my client will retire from active service to control his investment in your country.
 
 
Furthermore i want to bring to your notice that business of this nature succeed when there is mutual understanding and cooperation and therefore my client agreed to compensate you with 30% while 5% covers incidental expenses including government taxes on the fund, my role as a consultant will have 15% while my client will have 50% for investment in your country in any viable business that you may advise him.
 
 
However, my client said that, he would like to meet with you to tidy up this arrangement by signing a Memorandum of Understanding or binding agreement.
 
 
As soon as I hear from you I will give you privilege information on how to start this hitch free transaction.
 
 
Regards,
 
 
Frank Richardson
 
 
Telephone Number: +447511031564
 
 

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