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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. K. Atuks" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <katuks12@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2012 06:13:44 +1200
Subject: Investment Co-operation

Dear Sir,
 
I write to implore your honest cooperation to assist us facilitate a transaction on behalf of our Principal, who happened to be a senior government functionary at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). We operate an accounting firm and have been consulting for our Principal on oil subsidy matters. The transaction is very realistic and legitimate.
 
Our Principal has very large volume of money (several millions of dollars) to disburse to companies who are been owed as a result of the oil subsidy. The money is floating in NNPC account in Central Bank of Nigeria . The documents for payments have been approved by the federal government and our Principal is entitled to some percentage of the total payment in exchange for obtaining confidential bid information and favorable recommendations from Nigerian government agencies. The percentage can no longer be paid to our Principal's account hence the federal government has ordered an investigation into all accounts belonging to NNPC officials in Nigeria.
 
I really want an entrepreneur at heart. Someone who could take risks and pursue what others may consider an off-the-wall idea. If you agree to assist my Principal by providing an account overseas where the money shall be wired, you shall be entitled to 20% of all funds transferred into the account as well as becoming his investment partner overseas.
 
If you are interested get back to me with details of your contact including your telephone number so that I shall send you the details and procedures to begin the execution of transfer.
 
Yours truly,
Mr. K. Atuks

Anti-fraud resources: