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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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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.
Click here to report a problem with this page.
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Russel Franklin <russelfranklin1@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2014 23:49:56 +0100
Subject: RE: OVER INVOICED!!
DEAR FRIEND,
I DECIDED TO CONTACT YOU BY EMAIL DUE TO THE URGENCY OF THIS BUSINESS. I AM
MR.RUSSELL W. SMITH, THE CHIEF ACCOUNTANT OF THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL
PETROLEUM CORPORATION (NNPC). OUT OF THE CRUDE OIL WE SOLD WE HAD EXCESS
CRUDE OIL SALES TO THE SUM OF TWENTY FOUR MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS
($24MILLION) BECAUSE OF INCREASE IN THE PRICE OF CRUDE OIL. I IMMEDIATELY
MOVED THIS MONEY TO A FLOATING ESCROW ACCOUNT FOR MY PERSONAL USE AND I
HAVE FINALLY AUDITED THE NNPC ACCOUNT AND THIS $24MILLION WAS NOT
DISCOVERED SO, I WANT YOUR ASSISTANCE TO HELP ME RECEIVE THIS AMOUNT IN
YOUR COUNTRY BECAUSE I CANNOT RECEIVE IT BY MYSELF BECAUSE AM A CIVIL
SERVANT STILL WORKING WITH THE GOVERNMENT.
YOU WILL HAVE 40% OUT OF THIS SUM WHILE MY SHARE WILL BE 60%. I WILL APPLY
FOR THIS MONEY TO BE PAID TO YOU IMMEDIATELY I HEAR FROM YOU. AM WAITING TO
HEAR FROM YOU SO THAT WE CAN PROCEED AND AM ASSURING YOU OF 100% RISK FREE
OTHERWISE I WOULD NOT HAVE INVOLVE MYSELF. WE HAVE CRUDE OIL FOR SELL IF
YOU CAN GET A SERIOUS BUYER AND WE WILL MAKE GOOD MONEY.
CONTACT ME ON MY PRIVATE EMAIL: waltersmith@datafull.com
YOUR FRIEND,
MR. RUSSELL W. SMITH
CHIEF ACCOUNTANT
NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION.
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Anti-fraud resources:
