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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: "Mr.Mustaph Elsafwana" <habiza49@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mr.mustaphaelsafwana20@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 8 Aug 2014 17:14:43 +0200
Subject: URGENT CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP

REQUEST FOR URGENT CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP
RE; TRANSFER OF US$28,500,000.00 DOLLARS INTO YOUR ACCOUNT.
ATTENTION: THE PRESIDENT/CEO.
Dear Sir/Madam.

I,on behalf of my other colleagues from different federal government
of Nigeria owned parastatals decided to solicit your assistance as
regards transfer on the above-mentioned amount into your account.
This fund arose from over-invoicing of various contract awarded in our
parastatals to certain foreign contractors sometime ago.
We as holders of sensitive positive positions in our various
parastatals were mandated by the federal government to scrutinize all
payments made to certain foreign contractors and we discovered that
some of the contracts they executed were grossly over-invoiced either
by omission or commission. Also we discovered that the sum of us$33.5M
[thirty three million five
hundred thousand U.S. Dollars only] was lying in a suspense account,
although the foreign contractors were fully paid their contract
entitlement after the execution the said contracts.
We all agreed that the over-invoiced amount be transferred [for our
own use] into a bank account provided by a foreign partner, because we
are government workers and the code of conducts does not allow us to
operate foreign account.
However, we have succeeded in transferring some of this over invoiced
money precisely U.S.$5.0M [five million U.S. dollars only] into a
foreign account in Beirut, Lebanon, but the provider of the account in
Lebanon, is up to some mischief and refuses to comply with our earlier
mutual agreement, insisting that the total amount be paid into his
nominated bank account before disbursement will take effect.
If for a U.S.$5M[ five million U.S. Dollars] we are not compensated,
is it when the balance of U.S$28.5M [twenty eight million, five
hundred thousand U.S. Dollars only] is transferred that we will be
sure of our full compensation?
We are therefore, soliciting your assistance so that the remaining
amount of U.S.$28.5M Can be speedily processed and fully remitted into
your
nominated bank account. On successful remittance of the fund into your
account, you will be compensated with 30% of the total amount for your
assistance and services.
So far, much have been said and due to our sensitive positions, we
cannot afford a slip in this transaction, neither can we give out our
identity, as regards our respective offices, but where relationship is
established and smooth operation commences, you will be furnished with
all you deserve to know.
I am at your disposal to entertain any question[s] from you with
respect to this transaction, so contact me immediately through the
above e-mail address for further information on the requirement and
procedure for this transaction.

Please, treat with strictest confidentiality and utmost urgency.
Yours Faithfully,
Mr.Mustaph Elsafwana.

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