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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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Fraud email example:

From: "MR MOHAMMED ABACHA" <mohammed_abacha@walla.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: mohammed_abacha2020@hotmail.com
Date: Mon, 25 Oct 2004 21:35:21 +0100
Subject: CAN YOU HANDLE THIS?

FROM: MR. MOHAMMED ABACHA.
ABACHA COURT, GIDADO ROAD, KANO-NIGERIA.
EMAIL: mohammed_abacha@walla.com

Good day.

I got your contact address from a reliable source, I am Mr. Mohammed Abacha, the son of late General Sanni Abacha, Ex-military Head of states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who died on 8th June 1998 of heart problems. I contacted you in respect to a mutual benefiting confidential business proposal and my need to deal with persons whom my family and I have had no previous personal relationships.

Since the death of my father, my family had been subjected to all sorts of harassment's and intimidation with lots of negative report emanating from the government and the press about my husband. The present government has also ensured that our bank accounts are frozen and all assets seized.]

It is in view of this that I seek your cooperation and assistance in the transfer of the sum of US$30,000,000.00 (Thirty Million United States Dollars only) being the very last of my family fund in my possession and control. An earlier attempt in the physical movement of the sum of US$37,000,000.00 was to avail as the money was confiscated and my International passport impounded at the Muritala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos in August 1998.

The Federal Government has seized all our properties and frozen all our accounts both local and International, but my only hope now is the available US$30,000,000.00 which was carefully packed and deposited with a security company as photographic materials where I have a confidant and family friend who worked as a General manager when my father died.

If you are willing to assist us in receiving this money on our behalf, please contact me immediately on the following confidential email address (mohammed_abacha2020@hotmail.com) to discuss the details and negotiate your reward, which l can assure you, will be very substantial. Please, ensure to keep this proposal very secret and confidential even if you are not interested to help me. We await your immediate response. PLEASE VISIT THE WEBLINK TO ASCERTAIN THE ABOVE GIVEN INFORMATION.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/africa/newsid_909000/909972.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/africa/newsid_877000/877113.stm

Best Regards,
Mohammed Abacha




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