joewein.de LLC fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter! Free trial for 30 days

"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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.

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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "search for a reliable person" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "huge sum of money" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "million american dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +2348074967779 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • hrymond1@yahoo.it (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "HARRY RAYMOND" <hry1@mailbox.hu>
Reply-To: hrymond1@yahoo.it
Date: Tue, 15 Jul 2008 09:32:39 -0700
Subject: REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE- STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL


FROM THE DESK OF: MR HARRY RAYMOND
CHIEF ACCOUNTANT OFFICER
FEDERAL MINISTRY OF PETROLUEM RESOURCES(F.M.P.R)
LAGOS NIGERIA.
TEL: 234-8074967779



ATTN: SIR/MADAM

REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE- STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL

I am Harry Raymond, Chief accountant Officer Federal Ministry of petroleum
Resources (MPR) and a member of a three-man Tender Board in charge of
contract review and payment approvals. I came to know of you in my search
for a reliable person to handle a very confidential transaction that
involves the transfer of a huge sum of money to a foreign account. It may
sound strange but exercise patience and read on. There were series of
contracts executed by a consortium Multinational in the Oil industry in
favour of Ministry of Petroleum Resources among which were:

1.The extension of pipeline network within Nigeria for crude oil, Down
stream products distribution and subsequent evacuation- US$ 195 Million.

2. Contract for the Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) of the various refineries
in the country~ US$ 152Million.

3. The construction of storage tanks for petroleum products (Depots) US$240
Million. The original values of this contract were deliberately over
invoiced to the sum of US $18.5million American Dollars which has now been
approved and is now ready to be transferred being that the companies that
actually executed these contracts has been fully paid and project officially
commissioned. consequently, my colleagues and I are willing to transfer the
total amount to your account for subsequent disbursement since we are Civil
Servant and are prohibited by the Code of Conduct Bureau (Civil Servant
Laws) from opening/operating foreign account in our names. Needless to say,
the trust posed on you at this juncture is enormous.

In return, we have agreed to offer you 30% of the transferred sum while 10%
shall be set aside for accidental expenses (Internal & External) between the
parties in the course of the transfer. We will mandate you to draw up an
investment plan for us of which you will control since we cannot bring our
shares back to Nigeria. We are very interested in investing in real estate
in your country. You must however note that this transaction is subjected to
the following terms and conditions:

1. Our conviction of your transparent honesty and diligence.

2. That you will treat this transaction with utmost secrecy and
confidentiality because of the circumstances we now find ourselves.

3. That the funds would be transferred to an account over which you have
absolute control. Modalities have been worked out at the highest level of
the presidency at the Central Bank of Nigeria for the immediate transfer of
the funds within 14 working days, subject to your satisfaction of the above
stated terms.

Our assurance is that your role is 100% risk free. To accord this
transaction, the legality it deserves and for mutual security of the parties
involved and the funds, the whole approval procedures will be officially and
legally processed with your name or the name of your company you may
nominate as the Bonafide beneficiary.

Also, be informed that our main reason of contacting you is for the obvious
reason that we will want to invest these funds in the real estate. It is our
believe that you can be of immense help in this regards. Kindly expedite
action so as to enable us include this transaction into this batch as
payment to foreign contractors is usually carried out on quarterly basis.

Please, contact me as soon as possible through my alternative e-mail address
hrymond1@yahoo.it . I awaits your soonest response.

Best regards,

Mr. Harry Raymond

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam