joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: CHIMA BEKO <chimabeko@alvilag.hu>
Date: Thu, 19 May 2005 14:28:18 +0200
Subject: RE: IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT.CONTRACT #: MAV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/009.

FROM REV.DR. CHIMA BEKO.
DIRECTOR INTERNATIONAL REMMITTANCE,
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN)
TEL: +234-803-7262269.
EMAIL: chimabekocbn2005@yahoo.com

ATTEN: HOURNORABLE CONTRACTOR,
RE: IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT.CONTRACT #: MAV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/009.

Following series of petitions and complaints received from the International Monetary Transfer Operations, Nigerian on your behalf and based on our investigation on foreign payment, we are glad to inform you that we are aware of your illegal contact/dealing made to you by some impersonators claiming to be attorneys, bank official and director of different offices in Nigeria. We received a petition that you spend so much money on several occasion. You are advised to stop dealing with these people as they are trying to divert your fund.

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 the outstanding contractors who have not received 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 my record in my file your outstanding contract payment is US$9.5 (Nine million, five hundred thousand United States dollars).it may interest you to know that the Federal Government of Nigeria has approved your contract fund through the Central Bank of Italy (bancod'italia) & has equally advice all the pending payments contractor(s), to prepare to have their funds received through this means as the only way to bit frauds from the system which has almost destroyed the nation's image to the wide world Therefore, you are requested to re-confirm to this office the followings information:

1) your full name.
2) Phone, fax and mobile #.
3) Company name, position and address.
4) Scanned copy either of your international passport or your driver's
license.

As soon as this information is received, your payment will be made to you in a certified bank draft or wired to your nominated bank account through international Telegraphic Transfer (TT) directly from Central Bank of Nigeria. And a copy of the transfer slip will be given to you for you to take to your bank for confirmation.

As soon as you receive this letter contact me for a serious discussion with me and further arrangement for your fund transfer.
Regards,
Rev.Dr.Chima Beko.
Director, International Remittance
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)

Anti-fraud resources: