joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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: "Mark Richard" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <richmark50@ymail.com>
Date: Fri, 5 Apr 2013 13:44:30 -0500
Subject: Re: PAYMENT AUTHENTICATION.

HON. Dr. Mark Richard
Director Gen, Foreign Affairs Ministry.
Foreign Affairs Ministry Complex
Wuse- Abuja-Nigeria.

Re: PAYMENT AUTHENTICATION.

I HON. Dr. Mark Richard, Director Gen. Foreign Affairs Ministry; my office monitors and controls the affairs of all banks and financial institutions in Nigeria

concerned with foreign contract payments. I am the final signatory to any transfer or remittance of huge funds moving within banks both on the local and

international levels in line to foreign contracts settlement.

I have before me list of funds, which could not be transferred to some nominated accounts as these accounts have been identified either as ghost accounts, unclaimed

deposits and over-invoiced sum etc. I write to present you to the federal government that you are among the people expecting the funds to be transferred into their

account, on this note; I wish to have a deal with you as regards to the unpaid certified contract funds.

I have every files before me and the data's will be to change to your name to enable you receive the fund into your nominated bank account as the beneficiary of the

fund's amount $35 Million U.S.D. As it is my duty to recommend the transfer of these surplus funds to the Federal Government Treasury and Reserve Accounts as

unclaimed deposits,I have the opportunity to write you based on the instructions i received 2 days ago from the Senate Committee on Contract Payments /Foreign Debts

to submit the List of payment reports / expenditures and audited reports of revenues. Among several others, I have decided to remit this sum following my idea that

we have a deal/agreement and I am going to do this legally.

MY CONDITIONS.
1. You will give me 50% of your contract funds as soon as you confirm it in your designated bank account.
2. This deal must be kept secret forever, and all correspondence will be strictly by email / telephone, for security purposes.
3. There should be no third parties as most problems associated with your fund release are caused by your agents or representative.
If you AGREE with my conditions, l advise you on what to do immediately and the transfer will commence without delay as I will proceed to fix your name on the

Payment schedule instantly to meet the three days mandate. I hope you don't reject this offer and have the funds transferred
Waiting for your reply soon. Email: richmark50@ymail.com

Yours Sincerely.

HON. Dr. Mark Richard.
Director Gen, Foreign Affairs Ministry.
Foreign Affairs Ministry Complex

Anti-fraud resources: