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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: "ALFREDO GONZALO" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <alfredogonzalo1@barid.com>
Date: Sun, 25 Feb 2018 15:22:43 -0800
Subject: Business Proposal

From the desk of: ALFREDO GONZALO
Executive Director/Financial Controller
Repsol Petroleum Oil Company, Madrid, Spain.
Many thanks for your willingness to assist us in this beneficial
 
transaction. Note that this business will follow Legal procedures and
 
there is NO RISK involved. Sincerely speaking, we have resolved to do this
 
business ONLY with you hence, we demand your total Honesty, Faithfulness
 
and Secrecy regarding all matters in this transaction. Do not discuss it
 
with anybody in your country until the US$20.5 Million arrives your bank
 
account safely; and always reply my emails promptly. For effective
 
commencement of this mutually beneficial project; you are required to send
 
your Full name, your address (either company or residential) and your bank
 
account details which we'll submit to the Remitting Bank  for effectual
 
transfer of the US$20.5Million in your favour.
Note that all documents relating to the ownership of the US$20,500,000.00
 
(Twenty Million Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars) shall be diligently
 
transcribed to your own name in order to perfectly and officially
 
confirm/recognize you as the original contractor and the authorized
 
beneficiary of the US$20.5Million. After the necessary documents must have
 
been secured in your favour, the Payment Approved File that shall be
 
opened at the Swift Transfer Dept. regarding the final remittance of the
 
Funds to your own bank account. Immediately after securing the endorsement
 
of relevant approval documents in your name, they shall be sent to you
 
either via Fax or Email attachments. Be rest assured that everything must
 
be legally processed in order to ensure 100% risk free operations and
 
quick remittance of the Funds into your own bank account.
My utmost intention is that once the Funds is transferred and confirmed in
 
your bank account, I will come over to meet you in your country for the
 
disbursement. Then, I shall use my own share of the Funds for investments
 
into any profitable business Venture in your country that will be decided
 
by you. Finally, I plead with you to maintain the required confidentiality
 
of this business and do NOT  reveal this transaction to anybody, until the
 
Money safely arrives your bank account because I am still in active
 
service here. We hereby emphasize that 40% of the total amount (US
 
$20.5Million) shall be your own SHARE while 3% will be used to cover the
 
little expenses that will encountered by all parties in the process of
 
securing the vital Approval and Remittance Documents; and 57% for my
 
colleagues and myself. WE BELIEVE IN HONESTY, TRUST AND FAITHFULNESS.
Thanks for your understanding and good cooperation as I expect your prompt
 
response today.
Yours Sincerely,
ALFREDO GONZALO
Executive Director/Financial Controller
Repsol Petroleum Oil Company, Madrid, Spain

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