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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 Robert Ake" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <rbca47@e-mail.ua>
Date: Wed, 9 Oct 2013 08:50:19 -0700
Subject: GOOD DAY

Hi,
I am contacting you to enable us talk and to establish trust which I feel would be the basis of our cooperation. My name is Mr Robert Ake of Contract/Finance Committee. My office is responsible for processing of contract payments on completed projects.  
 
It is about a Foreign Contractor who has an unpaid contract Fund Five Million Eight Hundred Thousand Euro only, for the Supply of Equipment for the Benin Energy Industry. This contract project was completed successfully but unfortunately the contractor, died before the contract payment was approved.
Upon receipt of the completion report from the site inspectors, my office secured the release of the fund and subsequently, the fund were deposited here in our Country in the name of the contractor. However, since the fund was deposited, I have been expecting any of deceased’s relatives to come for the claim but till today, no body has shown up, so from all indications, none of his relatives is aware of this fund. This is a top secret and no other person here knows about this, everyone believes that the deceased contractor has received his contract fund.
It is on this note that I decided to contact you to use my position to recommend you as the business partner to the deceased, so that this fund will be released to you and you will have Forty percent, while Sixty percent will be for me.
All documents to facilitate the smooth conclusion of this transaction are legitimate and officially in order. I will give you details when I hear from you. In your reply, include your full names, age, address, private telephone/fax numbers if any. 
Thank you.
Mr Robert Ake

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