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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. STEVE WALES" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <stevewells02@w.cn>
Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2011 07:20:08 -0800
Subject: DEAR BENEFICIARY

New Page 1

DEAR FRIEND

AFTER A SERIOUS THOUGHT, I DECIDED TO REACH YOU DIRECTLY AND PERSONALLY BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING AGAINST YOU, BUT YOUR PARTNERS.

I AM THE DIRECTOR OF WIRE TRANSFER/TELEX DEPARTMENT OF THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA, SOME TIME IN THE PAST YOUR  PARTNERS APPROACHED ME THROUGH A FRIEND OF MINE WHO WORKS WITH ONE OF THE MINISTRIES HERE AND REQUESTED THAT I ASSIST THEM CONCLUDE A MONEY TRANSFER DEAL AND WE ALL AGREED.

ACCORDING TO THEM, THEY WANTED TO USE THIS STRATEGY TO TRANSFER  THE FUND WHICH THEY ACCUMULATED THROUGH INFLATED CONTRACT AWARDS AND THE MONEY HAS BEEN FLOATING IN THE (CBN) SINCE THE ORIGINAL CONTRACTORS/BENEFICIARY'S HAS BEEN FULLY PAID, SO THEY WANTED TO USE YOUR ACCOUNT TO TRANSFER THE SURPLUS OUT OF NIGERIA. WE AGREED THAT ONCE I DO THIS, THEY WOULD GIVE ME US$500,000.00 AND GIVE ME ANOTHER US$500, 000.00 WHEN I RELEASED THE FUND TO YOUR ACCOUNT. WHEN THEY SAW THAT I HAVE DONE THAT AND YOUR NAME HAS BEEN APPROVED AMONG THE LIST OF THOSE TO BE PAID, INSTEAD OF GIVING ME THE AGREED DEPOSIT OF US$500,000.00, THEY STARTED AVOIDING ME AND RESORTED TO THREATS.

I IMMEDIATELY DELETED YOUR  NAME AMONG THE LIST OF THOSE TO BE PAID BECAUSE OF MY POSITION, AND RELEASE OTHER BENEFICIARY'S FUND WITHOUT YOURS.

THEY BECAME ANGRY THE MORE WHEN THEY SAW THAT THEIR PLAN DID NOT WORK, AND STARTED BRIBING OTHER OFFICIALS TO GET ANOTHER APPROVAL TO TRANSFER THE MONEY TO YOU WITHOUT SUCCESS. APPROVALS ARE FREE, IS IT NOT FUNNY THAT A CONTRACTOR/BENEFICIARY IS BEING ASKED TO PAY FOR APPROVAL WHILE HIS MILLIONS IS HERE WITH US? I AM 100% RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DELAY AND OBSTRUCTIONS BECAUSE OF THEIR BREACH OF CONTRACT. IF YOU DOUBT WHAT I HAVE JUST TOLD YOU, PAY ANY AMOUNT THEY WILL ASK YOU TO PAY NOW, AFTER A SHORT TIME THEY WILL COME UP WITH ANOTHER REASON TO PAY AGAIN AND IT GOES ON AND ON. NOW IF YOU WANT US TO WORK TOGETHER, THESE ARE MY CONDITIONS.

(I). I WILL HAVE 40% OF THE MONEY BECAUSE IT IS ONLY THE TWO OF US LEFT FOR NOW.

(II). YOU WILL ASSIST ME TO OPEN AN ACCOUNT IN YOUR COUNTRY OR ANY OTHER PLACE OF MY CHOICE WHERE I WILL TRANSFER IN MY OWN SHARE WHEN WE FINALIZE THE TRANSACTION AND YOU CONFIRM THE FUND INTO YOUR ACCOUNT.


(III) AS YOU HAVE SEEN, IT WILL BE USELESS AND MERE WASTE OF MONEY IF YOU CONTINUE WITH ANY OTHER PERSON. SO WE WILL CONCLUDE THE TRANSACTION WITH UTMOST SECRECY AND CONFIDENTIALITY.

IF THESE CONDITIONS ARE ACCEPTABLE TO YOU, CONTACT ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO LET US FINALIZE ALL THE ARRANGEMENT AND FINALIZE THIS DEAL IMMEDIATELY WITHOUT ANY FURTHER DELAY


BEST REGARDS.
MR. STEVE WALES.
DIRECTOR, FOREIGN OPERATION DEPT.CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA

TELE: +234 8128 280460

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