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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: "PROF, NGOZI OKONJO IWEALA" <ministryoffinance.nigeria@minister.com>
Date: Sun, 06 Jul 2014 13:43:47 +0100
Subject: Urgent and Personal................reply to; ministryoffinance.nigeria@minister.com



FROM THE DESK OF
PROF, NGOZI OKONJO IWEALA.

DEAR SIR/MA,

REQUEST ASSISTANCE/PARTNERSHIP IN A TRANSFER.


I AM THE MINISTER OF FINANCE, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA.
AND ALSO A MEMBER OF A CONTRACT AWARD AND REVIEW COMMITTEE.
A CONTRACT ALREADY EXECUTED BY A FOREIGN FIRM IN AFRICA IN
2002 WAS OVER-INVOICED BY US TO THE TUNE OF US$35.5M
(THIRTY-FIVE MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES
DOLLARS ONLY).

IN THE LIGHT OF THE ABOVE, I ASK YOU FOR ASSISTANCE IN THE
TRANSFER OF THE EXCESS FLOATING IN A SUSPENSE ACCOUNT INTO A
FOREIGN ACCOUNT YOU MAY WISH TO PROVIDE, FOR IT WAS A
CATEGORY "A" CONTRACT, (STRICTLY RESERVED FOR A FOREIGN
CONTRACTOR) THIS INFORM MY REQUEST, AND ALSO THAT I AM
FORBIDDEN BY MY GOVERNMENT TO RUN ANY FOREIGN ACCOUNT.

AFTER THE SUCCESSFUL TRANSFER, 30% OF THE TOTAL SUM WILL GO
TO YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE WHILE 10% OF THE TOTAL SUM TO
COMPENSATE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL EXPENSES INCURRED BY BOTH
PARTIES. MORE DETAILS WILL BE GIVEN IN THE COURSE OF
CORRESPONDENCE.

YOUR CONFIDENTIALITY IS HIGHLY REQUIRED SINCE I AM STILL IN
ACTIVE SERVICE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ANTICIPATED CORPORATION.
ALL CORRESPONDENT TO: ministryoffinance.nigeria@minister.com

REGARDS,

PROF, NGOZI OKONJO IWEALA. (FSS, CFR)

Anti-fraud resources: