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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: "Frank David" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <attorneyofusaiffice@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 8 Aug 2017 19:50:36 -0700
Subject: FROM MNNPC

THE GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR
NIGERIA NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION
NNPC TOWERS,
ABUJA-NIGERIA
 
Our Ref: CBN/IRD/CBX/021/2017
 
PAYMENT NOTIFICATION.
 
I apologize, for the delay of your payment and all the inconveniences that we might have indulge you. However, we were having some minor problems with our
 
payment system, which is inexplicable, and have held us stranded and indolent, not having the aspiration to devote our 100% assiduity in accrediting foreign
 
contract payments. We apologize once again.
 
From the records of outstanding contractors, due for payment with the federal government of Nigeria. Your name and company was discovered as next on the list
 
of contractors who are yet to receive their payments.
 
I wish to inform you that your payment is being processed and will be released to you as soon as you respond to this letter.
 
Also note that from our records your outstanding contract payment is USD$7.5 million dollars (Seven million five hundred thousand united states dollars).
 
Please re-confirm to me if this is in line with what you have in your record for records verification and proper documentation to avoid future embarrassment.
 
Please provide a daytime telephone number(s) with which you can be reached.
 
 
 
As soon as these details are received and verified, your payment will be made to
you via wire transfer.
 
Yours sincerely,
Frank David
DEPUTY GMD NNPC

Anti-fraud resources: