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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:

Fraud email example:

From: "Aaron Charles" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <aca080340@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 28 Jan 2014 18:28:16 +0100
Subject: Awaiting Your Reply.

DEPARTMENT OF AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PORT AUTHORITIES (AAPA)
 
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
 
CREW MEMBER'S DECLARATION
 
Nr A0000000
 
19 CFR 4.7, 4.7a, 4.81, 122.83, 122.84, 148.61-67
 
Hi, my name is Aaron Charles Anderson., I'm a custom officer, working with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection authority and also the chairman of the American association of port authorities (AAPA). I also take care of the import and export section in the Port of South Louisiana, Port of Long Beach, California for the past 22 years.
 
I have the sum of $28,000,000 i made in my office and want to invest it in metal reproduction industries in oversea. A capable and reliable company that can assist me to invest wisely into the metal industry should contact me through email: how I made this money, we where refunding some importers that imported goods into the country so many years ago their excess import duty taxes, because a general official decision was taken that all importers that imported goods into the various sea ports of the united states for the past 20 years be refunded 50% of their duty payment as an excess import duty tax, because of the excess taxation error that have just been discovered from our database. as the refund was going on, I put up an application with my position as the leader of my unit, that a friend of mine was among the importers who is still yet to receive their excess import duty refund, valued US$28,000,000.00 and the approval department accepted to refund and request that I should a  
With no doubt in mind, this is the source of the fund. Now I will have to present you as my friend and the said fund will be refunded to you, which will be transferred to you through T/T to any account of your choice, while I will travel to meet you after the fund is transferred, for the investment of the fund. After this transaction is concluded, I will have to reward you with 30% of the total sum, for your kind attention and understanding towards this project, while 70% will be for me for the investment purposes, which will also be done under your care, because I have not been into business and dont have any business idea. I want to assure you a hitch free transaction, therefore, you dont need to get apprehensive, because I have a good reputation here and will use my position to perfect all the process till the fund transfer is successful concluded, as all legal documents that will back up the fund claims as a clean bill will be obtained accordingly, to avoid any law enforcement  
However, I like to protect the privacy of this project, because of the amount involved, please I will appreciate you to treat this matter with strict confidential, to avoid any third party into this matter and for our privacy importance. There is nothing to be worried about, but it is good to keep some issues of this nature secret and not to be made a public discussion, for security purposes.
I will forward you more details and the necessary procedures as soon as I receive your response to execute this matter with full understanding without any doubt.
 
Yours Sincerely
 
Capt. Aaron Charles Anderson
U.S. Customs and Border Protection

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