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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: ken austin <kenaustin100@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 15 May 2006 23:51:01 +0100 (BST)
Subject: URGENT ASSITANCE


URGENT ASSITANCE

ATTENTION: President\CEO.

I, on behalf of my other colleagues from different organs of Federal
Government of Nigeria (FGN) owned ministries decided to solicit your
assistance as regards transfer of the above-mentioned amount into your
bank
account. This fund accrued from over
invoicing of various contract awarded in my ministry to certain Foreign
Contractors sometimes ago.

We, as holders of sensitive position in various ministries were
mandated by
the Federal Government to scrutinize all payments made to certain
foreign
Contractors, we then discovered that some of the contracts they
executed and
commissioned were grossly over-invoiced either by omission or
commission.
In the process the sum of US$22M (Twenty Two Million US Dollars only)
was
found lying in NNPC suspense account
After the foreign contractors had been paid their rightful dues for
executing the said contracts.

We all then agreed that this over-invoiced amount be transferred (for
our
own use) into a bank account to be provided by a trustworthy foreign
partner
like you, because we are government workers and the Code of Conduct
does not
allow us to operate foreign accounts.

Thus we are seeking your unwavering assistance that the total amount of
US$22M can be speedily processed and fully remitted into your nominated
bank
account. We have agreed that 35% of the total sum goes to you for your
involvement and the expenses you will incur to see the successful end
of the
transaction.

So far, much have been said and due to our sensitive positions, we
cannot
afford a sleep in this transaction neither can we give out identity as
regards our respective offices, but whereby cordial relationship is
established, smooth operations commences, you will
be furnished with details of all you deserve to know.

I am at your disposal to entertain any question from you with respect
to
this transaction, so contact me immediately through my e-mail for
further
information and procedure to execute this transaction.

In your reply please endeavor to send me the following informations

1.FULL NAME AND PERSONAL ADDRESS.
2.YOUR PRIVATE PHONE, FAX NUMBERS.

Please, treat with secret, confidential and utmost urgency.

Yours sincerely,

DR.Ken Austin.

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