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: "Mr. Hassan Mohammed" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <hassanmohammed130@yahoo.es>
Date: Sun, 21 Apr 2013 01:31:42 +0100
Subject: From Mr. Hassan Mohammed/READ AND GET BACK TO ME

Dear Friend,
 
Compliment of the day to you.
 
I am (Hassan Mohammed) Director of operation in National Petroleum Construction Company, Dubai - UAE. My primary assignment in the corporation is to sublet contracts that has been acquired and approved by management. In the course of awarding contract for fabrication and installation of tie-in platforms & scraper decks of an oil company in their offshore site, the contract was inflated to the tune of US$13,700,000.00. The contract which was awarded to an expatriate, who has long been paid his total contract payment, left with the inflated amount of $13,700,000.00 USD.
 
I am seeking your indulgence and assistance in having this amount remitted to your account for investment purposes. There is absolutely no liability, be it civil or criminal on your part.
 
We have resolved to compensate you with 27% commission for your assistance in having this fund transferred to your account for investment purposes.
 
This transaction is being executed with the blessing of Executives in government and in the Oil ministry. More details will be forwarded to you,
should I receive a positive response from you.
 
I look forward to your positive response which will definitely result to a healthy and lucrative business relationship between both of us.
 
Thank you in advance for your corporation.
 
Yours Sincerely,
 
Hassan Mohammed
Director of operation

Anti-fraud resources: