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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: John McCullough <servicescenter04467@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 11 May 2015 02:37:07 -0700
Subject: 100% risk free

Dear Friend,

This letter may come to you as a surprise since it is coming from someone
you have not met before. However, we decided to contact you based on a
satisfactory information we had about your business person as regard
business information concerning your country and the safety of our funds in
a steady economy such as that of your country compared to our country
Nigeria Africa.

I am a civil adviser currently working with the monitoring committee
overseeing the winding up of the petroleum trust fund(PTF).Myself and my
close and trusted colleagues need your assistance in the transfer of US$25
million into any reliable Account you may nominate overseas.

This fund was generated from over-invoicing of contracts executed by the
PTF under the administration of the past military government. These were
discovered while we were reviewing the PTF accounts.

>From our discoveries, these contracts have been executed and the
contractors in question were all paid. The difference of US$25,000,000
being the over-invoiced amount is the funds, we want your corporate entity
to help us receive.

What we want from you is a good and reliable company or personal Account
into which we shall transfer this fund.

Details should include the following:

1. Name of Bank
2. Address of Bank with Fax & Tel. No.
3. Account Number
4. Beneficiary/Signatory to Account (Account Name)

Upon the Successful crediting of your Account. The fund will be shared as
follows:
1. 20% for you and your assistance
2. 75% for myself & my Colleagues
3. 5% for contingency expenses

Please after your first reply through e-mail, I will want us to continue
further communication by fax and telephone for confidential purpose. We
wish to assure you that your involvement should you decide to assist us,
will be well protected, and also, this business, proposal is 100% risk free
as we have put a whole lot into it.

Thank you for your anticipated cooperation while we look forward to a
mutually benefiting business relationship with you.

Please when replying to my e-mail kindly include your telephone, fax number
and mobile telephone numbers preferably extremely private numbers where we
can reach you any time of the day. Please be aware that a high level of
confidentiality and trust is required in this business.

Best Regards,
John McCullough

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