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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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Fraud email example:

From: vinatte@tiscali.it
Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2004 03:55:17 +0100
Subject: URGENT

DEPARTMENT OF PETROLEUM RESOURCES
KOFO ABAYOMI STREET, VICTORIA ISLAND
LAGOS - NIGERIA.

Dear Friend,

This letter may come to you as a surprise but it was borne out of my sincere
desire to share a mutual business relationship with you. First, your strictest
confidence in this
transaction is highly solicited. This is by virtue of its nature as being
utterly confidential and top secret.

I am a top government official with a statutory corporation and member of
an ad hoc committee set up by the Federal Government of Nigeria to review
contract awarded
by past administration. In the course of identifying, scrutinizing and recommending
for the payment of all valid contract executed, we discovered a huge sum
of money
amounting to USD41.5M (Forty One Million five Hundred Thousand US Dollars)
on grossly over invoiced contract already awarded and executed for the Department
of
Petroleum Resources. Having Cleaned the 'AUGEAN STABLE' we intend to transfer
the balance of USD41.5M presently floating in our apex bank of Nigeria to
our own
benefit and advantage.

However, we request for your unwavering assistance in this regard because
as civil servants we are prohibited under the civil service code of conduct
bureau from
operating a foreign account or running a foreign company unless after retirement
in this vain we want you to front for us as partner to enable us lodge the
funds speedily
into your account. Bear in mind that no risk is attached to this project
and all logistics are in place and modalities worked out for the smooth
conclusion within a stipulated
time. This is in accordance with the fact that you must never betray the
trust already reposed on you. We have decided to compensate you with 30%
of the total sum for
your support, 60% for us while 10% for miscellaneous expenses (local and
international).

Please, provide your confidential phone and fax number to enable me contact
you for further discussion on this matter.

Please advise in your return e-mail if any time is convenient and confidential
enough to call you.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Best regards,
Dr Vincent Atte


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