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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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr. Farouk Hamza" <faroukhamza@internalaudit-ng.com>
Date: Sun, 07 Aug 2005 18:30:55 +0000
Subject: PROFITABLE BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP/CONTACT REQUIRED

DR. FAROUK HAMZA.
ABUJA, NIGERIA

REQUEST FOR URGENT CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP FOR THE TRANSFER OF
US$45,560,000.00 (FORTY FIVE MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED AND SIXTY THOUSAND UNITED
STATES DOLLARS ONLY) INTO YOUR ACCOUNT.

I hope this letter will not embarrass you since we have not had any previous
communication. I got your reference from your country's trade department
under private enquiry that is not related to my aim of writing you this
letter and went further to have it confirmed by the Nigeria Exports
Promotion Council (NEPC).

I, on behalf of my other colleagues from different Federal Government of
Nigeria owned agencies decided to solicit your assistance as regards the
transfer of the above stated amount into your bank account. This fund arose
from the over-invoicing of various contracts awarded in my agencies to
certain foreign contractors some time ago.

We as this new civilian government mandated holders of official positions in
various agencies, to scrutinize all payments made to certain foreign
contractors by the past Military Government and we discovered that some of
the contracts they executed were grossly over-invoiced, either by omission
or commission. Also we discovered that the sum of $65,560,000.00 (Sixty-Five
Million, Five Hundred and Sixty Thousand United States Dollars Only) was
lying in a suspense account, although the foreign contractors were fully
paid their entitlements after executing the said contracts. We all agreed
that the over-invoiced amount be transferred (for our own use) into a bank
account provided by a foreign partner, as the code of conduct of the Federal
Civil Service does not allow us to operate foreign accounts.

However, we have succeeded in transferring some of these money, precisely
US$20,000,000.00 (Twenty Million United States Dollars Only) into a foreign
account in GENEVA (SWITZERLAND). But unfortunately, the provider of the
account has severed all forms of contacts with us as he has refused to
adhere to our earlier mutual agreement insisting that the total amount be
paid into his nominated bank account before disbursement will take effect.
If for US$20M (Twenty Million United States Dollars Only) we are not
compensated, how can one guarantee full compensation on remittance of the
balance of US$45.560M (Forty-Five Million, Five Hundred and Sixty Thousand
United States Dollars Only).

We are therefore seeking your assistance based on the balance amount of
US$45.560M, which can be speedily processed and fully remitted into your
nominated bank account. On successful remittance of the fund into your
account, you will be compensated with 25% of the amount for assistance and
services and 5% set aside for expenses contingency.

This transaction is closely knitted and in view of our SENSITIVE POSITION we
cannot afford a slip, I assure you that this transaction is 100% risk free.
We will avail you with our identities as regards our respective offices,
when relationship is fully established and smooth operation commences. I am
at your disposition to entertain any question(s) from you in respect of this
transaction, so contact me immediately through the above private email
address for further information on the requirements and procedure. Please
note that the DEAL needs utmost CONFIDENTIALITY and your IMMEDIATE RESPONSE
will be highly appreciated and we will use our own share of the money to
establish a lucrative business in your country.

Please you should contact me immediately with your private fax and telephone
numbers where further details in respect to this transaction would be sent.
Please also send to me your full contact details.

Yours truly,
DR. FAROUK HAMZA


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