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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.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: dikko martins <martinsozogura_2004@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 12 Sep 2005 06:36:06 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: YOUR MAXIMUM ASSISTANCE NEEDED



ATTN:SIR


REQUEST FOR URGENT BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP.
MAY I THROUGH THIS MEDIUM SEEK FOR YOUR COOPERATION
AND ASSISTANCE IN A BUSINESS THAT REQUIRES HIGH CONFIDENTIALITY.

I AM A SENIOR CIVIL SERVANT WITH THE BELOW NAMED CORPORATION AND WAS OPPORTUNED TO HEAD A CONTRACT AWARD COMMITTEE OF THE CORPORATION (NNPC) SOME TIME AGO.

IN THE COURSE OF MY ASSIGNMENT, I WITH THE CONSENT OF
MY OTHER COLLEAGUES ON THE BOARD INFLATED A CONTRACT
AWARDED TO A FOREIGN CONTRACTOR, TO THE TUNE OF
US$48,500,000.00 (FOURTY EIGHT MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED
THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS). THE FOREIGN
CONTRACTOR HAS LONG COMPLETED THE CONTRACT AND HAS
SINCE BEEN PAID HIS CONTRACT SUM. LEAVING THE BALANCE
OF THIRTY FIVE MILLION, FIVE
HUNDERD THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS FLOATING IN MY
CORPORATION’S ACCOUNT WITH THE GOVERNMENT.

I AM HEREBY REQUESTING YOUR ASSISTANCE AND COOPERATION
TO ENABLE US REMIT THIS MONEY INTO ANY FOREIGN BANK
ACCOUNT OF YOURS. WHILE THE SAID ACCOUNT MUST BE SUCH
THAT WE WILL NOT HAVE ANY DIFFICULTIES GETTING BACK
OUR OWN SHARE OF THE FUND. THE NATURE OF YOUR PRESENT
BUSINESS OR OCCUPATION DOES NOT MATTER.

I AM THEREFORE ASKING YOU TO PROVIDE ME THROUGH THIS
CONFIDENTIAL EMAIL ADDRESS ALL NECESSARY THINGS WE
MIGHT REQUIRED ALONG SIDE THE TRANSACTION. FOR YOUR
ASSISTANCE AND COOPERATION, YOU WILL BE ENTITLED TO
20% OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT, 10% WILL BE USED TO PAY BACK
ALL EXPENSES WHICH WILL BE INCURRED IN THE COURSE OF
THIS TRANSACTION, WHILE THE BALANCE OF 70% WILL BE FOR
I AND MY COLLEAGUES.

ONE OF WHOM WILL COME OVER TO YOUR COUNTRY AS SOON AS
THE MONEY GETS INTO YOUR ACCOUNT TO MAKE FURTHER
ARRANGEMENT BASED ON YOUR ADVICE, ON HOW TO
INVEST/REPAY THE FUND INTO ACCOUNT THAT WILL BE OPENED
IN OUR NAMES.

PLEASE BE INFORMED THAT ALL NECESSARY LOGISTICS
ARRANGEMENTS HAS BEEN CONCLUDED TO ENABLE THE TRANSFER
OF THE MONEY INTO YOUR ACCOUNT WITHIN (14) FOURTEEN
WORKING DAYS OF RECEIVING THE ABOVE REQUESTED ACCOUNT
INFORMATION FROM YOU. WE ARE ALSO ASSURING YOU THAT
THIS TRANSACTION IS 100% RISK-FREE.

WAITING FOR YOUR URGENT RESPONSE.

THANKS AND GOD BLESS.

YOURS FAITHFULLY,

DR. Martins OZOGURA.



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