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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: Paul Kofi <dr.paulkofi@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2015 21:25:34 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: REPLY URGENT


Attn:Sir
For your assistance please. We write to solicit foryour assistance  for this transaction believing that you will treathis with utmost confidence, and excuse me for the embarrassment thisletter might cause you as we have not met or known each otherbefore.I have the mandate of my colleagues in my office to solicitfor your assistance for a business/deal we want to execute with you.
My ministry, Federal Ministry of Health and SocialServices (FMHSS)awarded a contract of (US$ 115,800,000.00) onehundred and fifteen million eight hundred thousand United StatesDollarsto a foreign firm for the supply and installation of Scan Machines,x-ray machines, E.C.G. Machines, Fetus Heart and Fasting Blood Sugar Machines for University Teaching Hospitals all over the Federation.

I and other senior members of my department (contract awardcommittee), on cause of writing the contract were able toover-invoice the contract sum to the tone of (143,300,000.00), one hundred and forty three million, three hundred thousand United States Dollars. And it might also interest you to know that the original contractors, who executed the contract, have been paid their contract amount on completion of the contract.
Now we are left with the over-invoiced sum of (27,500,000.00) twenty seven million five hundred thousand United State Dollars, for our mutual benefit.

All arrangements have been concluded on how this money will be moved.Our constraints lie on the fact that we required aforeign firm or individual account number where this money will bepaid into; whose owner will be portrayed as the beneficiary of thecontract fund. In fact this is why I am writing you this letter seeking for your assistance.
Note: there is no risk involved as we have taken care, allloopholescovered.
As civil servants, we are aware that some financial assistance will be required to effect the success of this moneytransfer, for this reason we have generally agreed to eimburse you with the sum of (US$3,000,000.00) three million United States Dollars, while the balance of  US$24,500,000.00) twenty four million fivehundred thousand United States Dollars, have been mapped out for importation of  telecommunication equipment, and we suggest you helpin this venture.
Please, indicate your position on this, if you are willing to assist? We will require the following information to enable us put claim to this money immediately. Your bank name, address and account number, Fax/Tele numbers of the bank where the money will be transferred.If you are not willing to assist we plea you keep this only to your self and inform us back of your position.
It is important I mention that the officials involved in thistransaction are top government functionaries who have put in years of service to this Country (Nigeria). For the maintenance of personal integrity and prestige of all persons involved in this transaction,you are implored to exhibit utmost secrecy throughout the duration ofthis deal. You are strongly advised to avoid discussing this transaction with a third party as that could jeopardize the successof this transaction.
You may open a separate account in any country of your choice forthis purpose if you wish. Meanwhile all arrangements for thistransfer for thissecond quarter of the year 2001 have been properlyorganized and further action awaits your response to this request.So I oblige you to send the required information to me immediatelythis will enable us to process for the approval of this payment intoyour desired bank account.

Thanks,
Paul Kofi

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