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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: Frank Howard <frankhoward91@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 15 Feb 2014 05:56:03 +0000
Subject: REPLY URGENT

FEDERAL MINISTRY OF HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES WEST AFRICA/NATIONAL NIGERIA
PETROLEUM CORPORATION.

Attn:Sir
For your assistance please. We write to solicit for
your assistance for this transaction believing that you will treat
his with utmost confidence, and excuse me for the embarrassment this
letter might cause you as we have not met or known each other
before.I have the mandate of my colleagues in my office to solicit
for your assistance for a business/deal we want to execute with you.
My ministry, Federal Ministry of Health and Social
Services (FMHSS)awarded a contract of (US$ 115,800,000.00) one
hundred and fifteen million eight hundred thousand United States
Dollars
to a foreign firm for the supply and installation of Scan Machines,
x-ray machines, E.C.G. Machines, Fetus Heart and Fasting Blood Sugar
Machines for University Teaching Hospitals all over the Federation by
National Nigeria Petroeleum Corporation.
I and other senior members of my department (contract award
committee), on cause of writing the contract were able to
over-invoice the contract sum to the tone of (143,300,000.00), one hundred
and forty three million, three hundred thousand United States Dollars. And
it might also interest you to know that the original contractors, who
executed the contract, have been paid their contract amount on completion
of the contract.
Now we are left with the over-invoiced sum of (27,500,000.00) twenty seven
million five hundred thousand United State Dollars, for our mutual benefit.
All arrangements have been concluded on how this money will be moved.
Our constraints lie on the fact that we required a
foreign firm or individual account number where this money will be
paid into; whose owner will be portrayed as the beneficiary of the
contract fund. In fact this is why I am writing you this letter seeking for
your assistance.
Note: there is no risk involved as we have taken care, allloopholes
covered.
As civil servants, we are aware that some financial assistance will be
required to effect the success of this money
transfer, for this reason we have generally agreed to eimburse you with the
sum of (US$3,000,000.00) three million United States Dollars, while the
balance of US$24,500,000.00) twenty four million five
hundred thousand United States Dollars, have been mapped out for
importation of telecommunication equipment, and we suggest you help
in this venture.
Please, indicate your position on this, if you are willing to assist? We
will require the following information to enable us put claim to this money
immediately. Your bank name, address and account number, Fax/Tele numbers
of the bank where the money will be transferred.
If you are not willing to assist we plea you keep this only to your self
and inform us back of your position.
It is important I mention that the officials involved in this
transaction are top government functionaries who have put in years of
service to this Country (Nigeria). For the maintenance of personal
integrity and prestige of all persons involved in this transaction,
you are implored to exhibit utmost secrecy throughout the duration of
this deal. You are strongly advised to avoid discussing this transaction
with a third party as that could jeopardize the success
of this transaction.
You may open a separate account in any country of your choice for
this purpose if you wish. Meanwhile all arrangements for this
transfer for this
second quarter of the year 2001 have been properly
organized and further action awaits your response to this request.
So I oblige you to send the required information to me immediately
this will enable us to process for the approval of this payment into
your desired bank account.
Kindly reply to me private email address: frankhoward_mr@yahoo.com
Thanks,
Frank Howard

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