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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: padoi22@swex.owncloud.arvixe.com
Date: Fri, 18 Jul 2014 14:56:14 +0000
Subject: LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS ANY HINDRANCE


Hello Dear,

My name is Engineer Patrick Donatius. I am the immediate past Group
Managing Director (GMD) of National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). I
got your contact from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and The Ministry
of International Industry directories and felt to write you. I need
your mutual understanding because sometimes man is God to man towards
your assistance to enable me transferring US$20.5 Million dollars over
there for my proposed investment. I am also aware that nothing goes
just like that and I believe it will be favorable for both of us if
sincerity and trust will be maintained during the process between us.

The money is part of the excess oil sales profits from our last year
2013 over oil sales. I have already submitted annual report for last
year (2013) to the minister, and they did not notice the excess
profits made. I deposited the US$20.5 Million dollars in an escrow
account without a beneficiary (Anonymous), to avoid any trace and I
cannot be directly connected to this money because I still work with
the Corporation as personal adviser to the petroleum minister. So, I
need your kind assistance to help me transfer this money.

I wholeheartedly offer you 40% of this money as my foreign partner,
8/10% for whatever that might come across as expenses and 50% would be
for me pending when I come over for us to see each other so far the
confidence and trust I need from you will be maintain. This
transaction will be risk free because it will be a bank-to-bank
transfer as duly planed.

All I require from you is your honest cooperation to enable us seeing
this transaction go through. If you will be capable and willing to
help, kingly reply through my confidentially email address: -
pdonatius@yahoo.com for more details.

Sincerely,

Engr. Patrick Donatius


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