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: "MARK OWEN" <markowen555@markowenworld.com>
Date: Wed, 31 Aug 2005 19:11:57 +0000
Subject: VERY IMPORTANT

PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL
Federal Ministry of Finance Foreign Operations Dept
Suite 5b, Old Federal Secretariats Ikoyi Lagos.


Dear,

I am MARK OWEN. working with department of Foreign Operations, Federal
Ministry of Finance. I got your contact through a search for an
international business partner.

This transaction requires mutual understanding, transparency and absolute
trust to be executed. One Mr. Pakir Kubani from India executed a contract
with the Federal Ministry of Aviation here in Nigeria, the contract worth is
Thirty Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollar
(US$30.500,000.00), but on the process of transferring the money to him, he
died with his family in an earthquake disaster that occured in India.
Meanwhile this fund is presently in the Central Bank Vault. Nobody knows
what is going on execept me.

This is the information of the contract executed by Mr. PakirKubani.
Contract Number: FMA/SLE/BIR/99Contract Sum: US$30.500,000.00 Therefore, you
will stand as the Trustee for the Original Contractor. I will send to you
the whole relevant documents that are required in this transaction
immediately you accept to co-operate with me. Send to me your (1) Private
Telephone and Fax Numbers (2) The name of company you wish to use. (3) Your
banking details to enable us start the deal

Immediately, I have decided to give you 45% of the fund for your
involvement, 5% will be for expenses, then 50% will be for me. This deal is
100% risk free and needs maturity from all the parties involved. I will be
going for my retirement very soon. So I need this money to invest in viable
projects in your country or its environs.

You shall arrange for us to meet with you immediately after we transferred
the money to you. I am waiting for your urgent response.

Best regards.

MARK OWEN


Anti-fraud resources: