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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.

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

Fraud email example:

From: "Chief John Adanti Mkpitima" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <johnadanti@mail.mn>
Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2010 23:40:33 +0100
Subject: Your Attention and Information

DEPARTMENT OF PETROLEUM RESOURCES CONTRACT AUDITING AND REVIEW COMITTEEE (DPRCARC)
 
Sir,
 
I am Chief John Adanti Mkpitima (JP), I am Fifty Five (55Years), I entract your utmost reliance in this informations and the transaction as whole.
 
I am  the head of the Department of Petroleum Resources Contract Auditing and Review Comitteee (DPRCARC) of Federal Republic of Nigeria to review all foreign and local contracts awarded to firms and contract payments by the Five major   Petroleum Companies here in my Country (Shell, Agip, Mobil, NNPC and Chevron) for the past five years (2005-2010), this action is reached because of the colapse of the Refineries that led to the importantion of fuel and the recnet contract scam that is rocking Halliburton Company  here in Nigeria.
 
In the course of our assignment we discovered some contract misappropation and among them is this contract payment of the tune of USD19,500,000:00 (Nineteen Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars ($19,500,000:00) made into the account of a foreign contractor  for the contract executed in the year 2006, on further investigation it was discovered that this contract was dully executed and the payment has been lying dormant  in the domiciliary bank account of this contractor here in Nigeria  since the year 2006  as a result of  death of this contractor in the United Kingdom  that same year and non of his relative or next of Kin has come up to put in claims on release of  this very contract payment.
 
The banking rules here in my country, have it that if a depositor has been confirmed dead and no one comes up for the claim of his/her deposit after a period of four (4) years, the bank has the right to declare such fund unclaimed and be transferred into the government treasury, with a 40% commission.
 
On making this discovery, I became interested in this existing fund and have retrived every necessary documents that  shall be  used  to lay claim on this fund as the business associate of this foreign contractor,  I have contacted you as a foreigner to stand as my trustee to enable me  present you before the bank as the either the business associate or the  distant relative of this contractor, to facilitate this fund ownership  change in your favor and immediate transfer into your account, pending my  visit there in your country for sharing and utilization between us, I also  want to reassure you that every step on this fund transfer is free of any  risk and it will be carried out under a legitimate process that will  protect you from any breach of the law. 
 
For effective actualisation you are to forward to me the following informations;-
 
a) Your full name.
b) Your confidential Tel/Fax numbers (mobile)
c) Your full contact /office address.
 
e) Brief information on your profile, this should include your age, marital status and nature of Job.
 
 
I have agreed to offer you 40% of the total sum for this essential role, 5% has been ear-marked for settlement of any incidental expenses that may come up in the course of  this transaction and transfer of this total fund into your account. please note that the hope, confidence bestowed on you should not be over-emphasised, and you are also to assist me in investing my  share of  55% while I am  there in your country.
NOTE: EVERY INFORMATION SHOULD REMAIN A TOP SECRET.
Please forward your anticipated reply on my confidential e-mail address:  johnadanti@mail.mn
 
Yours Sincerely,
Chief John Adanti Mkpitima.(JP)

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