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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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: collins zandi <collins_zandi@yahoo.co.in>
Date: Fri, 2 Sep 2005 14:50:02 +0100 (BST)
Subject: A CRY FOR HUMBLE HELP


DEAR SIR,

FIRST AND FOREMOST,I MUST SOLICIT YOUR STRICTEST
CONFIDENCE IN THIS TRANSACTION AND I PRAY THAT MY
DECISION TO CONTACT YOU WILL BE GIVEN GENUINE
APPROVAL CONSIDERING THE FACTS WE HAVE NOT KNOWN EACH
OTHER BEFORE, I WISH TO USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
INTRODUCE MYSELF TO YOU.

I AM COLLINS ZANDI. FROM SIERRA-LEONE WEST
AFRICA. I WRITES TO INFORM YOU MY DESIRE TO INVEST,AND
TO BUY A LIVING HOUSE IN YOUR COUNTRY. I AM THE SECOND
SON OF MR. MICHEAL ZANDI HE WAS A DIAMOND MERCHANT
IN MY COUNTRY.MY FATHER HAD A BULLET SHOT BY THE
REBELS ON HIS WAY TRAVELLING TO LUSIA A CITY AFTER
FREETOWN THE CAPITAL ALONG WITH MY ELDER BROTHER.MY
BROTHER DIED ON THE SPOT WHILE U.N.PEACE KEEPING FORCE
RESCUED MY FATHER,HE WAS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL FOR MEDICAL
TREATMENT WHICH HE LATER DIED ABOUT THREE MONTHS NOW.

BEFORE HE DIED HE REAVEALED TO ME AND MY MOTHER ABOUT
THE BOXES CONTAINING $ 22 MILLION US DOLLARS.WHICH HE
DEPOSITED WITH A SECURITY COMPANY IN COTE DIVOIRE FOR
SAFE
KEEPING. MY FATHER DID NOT DISCLOSE THE CONTENT OF THE
BOXES TO THE SECURITY COMPANY.TO AVIOD THE OFFICIALS
FROM RAISING EYE BROWS TO THE FUNDS. PRESENTLY MYSELF
AND MY MOTHER ARE HERE IN COTE DIVOIRE TO NOTIFY THE
SECURITY COMPANY FOR THE CLAIMS,AND WE ARE STAYING IN
THE REFUGEE CAMP.

THEREFORE I WANT YOU TO LECTURE ME ON HOW BEST WE CAN
INVEST THIS MONEY,BECAUSE MY FATHER TOLD ME THAT IT IS
DANGEROUS TO INVEST THIS MONEY IN AFRICA TO AVIOD
SUSPICIONS,AND DUE TO MARKET INSTABILITY
COUPLED WITH ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL INSTABILITY FACING
AFRICAN COUNTRIES,THAT IS WHY WE WANT TO INVEST IN
ABROAD.

FOR YOUR MUTUAL ASSISTANCE, MYSELF AND MY MOTHER HAVE
AGREED TO OFFER YOU 10%OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE
MONEY.WE HAVE ALL THE VITAL DOCUMENTS COVERING THE
DEPOSIT AND THE OWNERSHIP WHICH I CAN SEND TO
YOU THROUGH FAX ON REQUEST.

NOTE:I HAVE NEVER DISCLOSED THIS TO ANY PERSON APART
FROM YOU,SO YOU HAVE TO KEEP THIS TRANSACTION AS A TOP
SECRET TO YOURSELF ALONE.WHICH I WILL WANT YOU TO
FORWARD ACROSS TO ME YOUR DIRECT TEL/FAX NUMBER FOR
MORE INFORMATIONS ABOUT THIS TRANSACTION.

BEST REGARDS,
COLLINS ZANDI
(FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY)




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