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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: funsho williams <barrfunsho_williams@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 27 Sep 2005 09:27:06 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: GOOD DAY?


FUNSHO WILLIAMS & CO.
LEGAL PRACTIONERS 7TH FLOOR
15A OSBORN ROAD,VICTORIA ISLAND
LAGOS.
ATTENTION:
Sir,
RE: SUM OF US25,000,000.00 IN A SECURITY COMPANY'S VAULTS IN
OVERSEAS.
I have been directed by Mrs. Mariam Abacha, wife of late General
Sanni Abacha, former Head of State, Federal Republic of Nigeria to
write this proposal to you.
Before General Sanni Abacha died in 1998, he deposited the sum of
Twenty-Five Million United States Dollars (US$25,000,000.00) in a
security company's vault in Amsterdam, Holland.
Now, Mrs, Mariam Abacha has consulted our law firm to contact a
reliable person to travel to Holland to secure the funds and invest
in your country in real estate properties for the Abacha family. For
your assistance, you will be entitled to 30% of the total sum
involved. If you are interested, you should immediately E-mail me
informing me of your interest in this project.
You should also E-mail to me your telephone and fax numbers
including your full name as shown on your International Passport. As
soon as I received your name, fax and telephones numbers, I will fax
a Power of Attorney to you duly signed by Mrs. Mariam Abacha
authorizing the Security Company to release the funds to you.
As soon as you secure the funds, I will be in your country for a
meeting with you on behalf of the Abacha's family.
I await your reply.
Best Regards,
BARRISTER FUNSHO WILLIAMS(SAN).
Attorney at Law.










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