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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.Williams Johnson" <miss.graceyang@yahoo.ca>
Reply-To: "Mr.Williams Johnson" <johnsonwilliams425@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 28 Dec 2014 23:15:52 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: await your quickest response


Attn:Dear Sir,Complimentof the day to you. I wish to extend this mutual business proposal to you withthe hope that you will gladly accept. I am the principal auditor of the NigerianNational Petroleum Corporation. A post I have held for the past three years.Inthe course of discharging my duty last year, I discovered that some governmentofficials in the past committed some irregularities in the form ofover-invoiced contractvalues which eventually got into their private bank accounts. Whatinterests me most, and for which reason i am writing you is this particularcontract which was awarded to a foreign contractor, it was overestimated by thetune ofus$ 17.8m (seventeen million, eight hundred thousand u.s.dollars). Thiscontract has been completed and commissioned and the contractor fully paid, butthe us $ 17.8 m over estimated value of the contract is still lying at theBank. Becauseof the haste with which the last Government was removed from office, these menhave no chance to collect this money before leaving the office.Butas a result of updated payments advice at the Bank, it has been awaitingtransfer to a foreign account.Inmy report, I recommended that this money should be paid but on the conditionthat the contractor should be informed. My recommendation was accepted and I have Beengiven the go-ahead order to get in-touch with the foreign contractors, butsince the contractor has been fully paid for the job done, I want to divertthis money toanother foreign account. Having done all the necessary ground work. This moneyis in my possession and I am looking forward for a trust worthy person intowhose privateor company's account this money will be transferred .I wish to retire fromservice after this transaction and go into business in your country through youas myagent. Youare therefore requested to kindly allow me to transfer this money into youraccount provided that I can withdraw this money when I want to. Upon thetransfer of thismoney, 65% of the total sum will be for me and my colleagues while 30% shall befor you the account owner and the remaining 5% shall be set aside to refund expensesmade in the course of this transaction. Be assured that this transaction is100% risk free. Iawait your quickest response as time is of essence in this transaction; I alsowant you to bear in mind that this transaction will take us 4 to 5 working daysto Conclude as I have make all arrangement with a  lawyer for the processing of the paymentdocuments.Iwill be waiting for your urgent reply through my direct e-mail (johnsonwilliams425@gmail.com) Yoursfaithfully,Mr.Williams Johnson.johnsonwilliams425@gmail.comNigeriaNational Petroleum Cooperation NNPC 

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