joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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: "Usman Ali" <usmanalli021@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: usmanalli01@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2006 15:27:15 +0100
Subject: I NEED YOUR HELP..

Dear Friend,
 
I came to know you through my search for a reliable,transparent and trustworthy person or partner to assist me execute a vital private and confidential business transaction. I am Mr. Usman Ali, a solicitor at-law; I am the personal attorney to retired Major El - Mustafa who used to be the Chief Security Officer in the Sani Abacha regime here in Nigeria. I shall be disclosing this secret to you because I need some one I can trust on this transaction. El - Mustafa, was arrested and charged to court for Conspiracy and murder  which was politically motivated by his enemies in this present regime.
 
This led to his bank accounts in Nigeria and abroad being frozen. Now, things are really bad for him and his entire family but who I pity most is his loving wife. Based on this, she cannot even afford to take care of her medical expenses not to even talk of her children. This is why I am rendering her and the husband free services.Also due to the fact that her husband is still being monitored, she was advised by him to source for a credible and trustworthy partner abroad who will help in managing and investing some funds he secretly deposited in a security firm for safe keeping some years ago. The amount is US$32.5million contained in sealed boxes.
He deposited these boxes,which contained the funds in the security company, for safekeeping as family "Treasures" and African artifacts to prevent the officials of the company from raising eyebrow. I wish and believe you will be in a position to assist in managing this large sum for a profitable venture and also to help create a safe heaven for her and her children by making a residential arrangement for them in your country. I have also seen the documents relating to this deposit since I strongly believe in documentation as an attorney.
 
Let me assure you that this transaction is 100% risk free. From my discussion with them, they have agreed to give you a reasonable percentage of the money for your assistance, which will be negotiated and agreed on by both sides. I am obliged to assist this family knowing that they have limited knowledge in the business world. I will need from you a mutual understanding and then we shall make plans of how the funds would be secured into an account in your name, this is the first step. Moreover, you will arrange and travel immediately to meet with the security company for the clearing of the consignment.
 
For more information,call me on 234-80-258-69611 or send your phone number to me.
Thanks and God bless you for your understanding.
Best regards.
Barrister Usman Ali.

Anti-fraud resources: