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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: "Dr. Albert Missbichler" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <albertmissbichler@mail.kz>
Date: Wed, 31 Mar 2010 02:40:30 +0200
Subject: Transfer of $150 Million US Dollars from Yukos Oil Corporation.

Hello,
 
Firstly, I must solicit your strictest confidence in this discussion which is confidential and TOP SECRET involving a pending transaction involving $150 Million US Dollars requiring maximum confidence and your co-operation. I am certain and have confidence in your reliability to prosecute this entire transaction.
 
I am Dr. Albert Missbichler, Executive Assistant (EA) to Mr. Mikhail Borisovich Khodorkovsky who is the President / Chief Executive Officer of the YUKOS OIL CORPORATION (Russian Largest Oil Corporation) with branch offices worldwide. Mr. Mikhail B. Khodorkovsky who was considered as the most powerful of the Russian business oligarchs, and in the year 2002, he was named the 16th wealthiest man in the world.
 
As the (EA) to Mr. Mikhail B. Khodorkovsky, some documents for $150 Million U.S Dollars was handed over to me for the payment of a foreign contractor. Already Mr. Mikhail Khodorkovsky has released this funds $150 Million U.S Dollars to Yukos Oil Corp Account with the Paying Bank in Hong Kong from where the final wire transfer is expected to be effected. While I was on the process of transferring the funds, Mr. Mikhail Khodorkovsky was arrested on the 25th of October, 2003 and was later prosecuted and sentenced to (9) nine years in prison on the 31st of May, 2005 on charges of massive fraud and tax evasion.
 
See the website below to better understand the problem facing Mr. Mikhail B. Khodorkovsky:
 
 
 
 
The Russian government has filed new charges against Mr. Mikhail B. Khodorkovsky with an aim of keeping him in prison indefinitely. A wide variety of local & foreign politicians, lawyers and journalists considers the process leading to the imprisonment of Mr. Khodorkovsky to be politically motivate. Mr. Khodorkovsky involvement and financial support for the opposition political party in Russia posed the greatest challenge ever to Vladimir V. Putin who happens to be the current Prime Minister of Russia and was formerly president from 2000 to May 7, 2008. It is widely believed that Vladimir V. Putin, and the many officials he placed in power during his presidency, will continue to exert significant influence on the government and politics of Russia for many years to come.
 
Therefore, on behalf of Mr. Mikhail Khodorkovsky, I solicit your help so you can stand as the foreign contractor/beneficiary of the said funds after which we can re-profile all documents in your favour which would be forwarded to the Paying Bank in Hong Kong for the wire transfer of $150 Million U.S Dollars from the Yukos Oil Corp Account into your nominated bank account.
 
Upon receipt of your immediate response, we shall discuss the compulsory modalities to see this transaction to successful conclusion. I have all necessary documents to secure the transfer in your favour.
 
Note that you will be entitled to 15% share of the total funds as your compensation for your assistance. I consequently request your maximum assistance and approvals to facilitate the transfer of the $150 Million U.S Dollars from the Paying Bank in Hong Kong, where these huge funds were deposited.
 
In conclusion, I guarantee that this transaction would be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect us from any breach of law.
 
I await your prompt reply.
 
Best Regards,
 
 
Dr. Albert Missbichler.
 

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