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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Muazu A. S" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <muazu.muazu@outlook.com>
Date: Sun, 1 Feb 2015 21:22:16 +0100
Subject: Mail From the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation,(NNPC).

From: Muazu A. S
Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, (NNPC)
49 Road Close A House 14,
Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi,
Lagos Nigeria.
 
           SHARE THIS OPPORTUNITY WITH ME.
 
Dear Sir,
 
I am sorry for contacting you through this medium without any previous notice. I am a Senior Staff with Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation,(NNPC). My colleagues and I intentionally over-invoiced a contract awarded  to the tune of USD50m. All arrangements have been concluded on how to transfer this fund into a safe foreign account hence the original contractor has been fully paid. By virtue of the Civil service code of conduct, serving officers are not allowed to operate foreign bank accounts.
 
This is why I am seeking your mutual involvement to work with me in getting the over-invoiced sum USD50m transferred into your foreign Bank account for our benefits.
 
Please indicate your interest via email hence other modalities will be discussed later. There is no risk involved and the fund transfer will have full legal backup because we have all the relevant papers concerned and have agreed that 35% of total sum will for you while 5% will be set aside for expenses incurred during the process and the remaining will be for me and my colleagues.
 
Please treat with utmost confidentiality and despatch.
 
Awaiting for your response.
Best Regard,
Muazu A. S.       
Acting GM, Budget & Project
Finance and Accounts.

Anti-fraud resources: